A motorbike used by the allies to infiltrate enemy lines during the Second World War has sold at auction for £1,050.

The 1939 Royal Enfield bike, known as the Flying Flea, was sold at Chippenham Auction Room’s Wiltshire Motor Auction, held at Castle Combe Racing Circuit on Saturday. During the war the bikes were fitted into steel tubular cages, with a parachute attached, before being dropped with troops behind enemy lines.

The Flying Flea was estimated to fetch between £600 and £800.

More than 200 collectors turned out to the auction on Saturday for a chance to pick up a piece of motoring nostalgia.

A rare Pierce Farm Machines and Implements enamel picture sign proved to be another jewel in the crown, selling for £3,200 – more than double its estimated price of £1,000-£1,500.

An Australian bidder, who was bidding via telephone, secured the sign.

Richard Edmonds, owner of Chippenham Auction Rooms, holds the event at Castle Combe Circuit twice a year, and was pleased with the turnout.

He said: “Despite the sale being one of the smallest we have had, with just under 400 lots – we usually have about 6-700 – there was a big crowd throughout the day and the items sold really well.

“It was both business and passion for me as I love vintage cars and it runs in my blood.

“My favourite item was probably the rare Pratts Perfection Spirit pictorial mirror, which sold for more than double its estimate at £2,200.”

Other items of interest to bidders included a 1973 Triumph TR6, which sold for £5,200 – the largest sale of the day.

The next auction will be held on October 31 and the response from the auction at the weekend has already brought collectors forward with items for sale.