CARS owned by Princess Anne and an Oscar-nominated Herefordshire screenwriter are going under the hammer in Leominster.

Brightwells are auctioning more than 120 classic cars and motorcycles including a 1988 Middlebridge Scimitar once owned by the Princess, which is expected to fetch around £7,000.

Topping the list of cars at the auction is a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible, owned by Bruce Robinson, who lives near Hay and who wrote and directed the film Withnail and I.

James Dennison, Brightwells’ classic car expert, said the Aston was the most valuable the auctioneers had offered and could fetch in excess of £250,000.

“Just 70 DB4 Convertibles were made between 1961 and 1963 and they very rarely come on the market,” he said.

“Bruce is currently staying at Johnny Depp’s house in the Caribbean working on the script for his next movie, but he hopes to be back here in time to see the car sold.”

Among the other classics on sale is a 1933 Lagonda 16/80 Tourer valued at £50,000, which Mr Dennison said was “possibly the finest example in the world”.

“Everyone is going on about the credit crunch at the moment but in fact the classic car market, like the art market, is extremely buoyant at present,” he added.

“Investors currently have no faith in the stock and property markets and they are increasingly putting their money into tangible assets like classic cars, antiques and paintings, which not only have a rarity value but are also hugely pleasurable to own.”

The sale begins at noon on October 22 at Brightwells, with viewing from 9am to 7pm the day before. For details call 01568 611122 or visit brightwells.com