One of Britain's most respected antique dealers has sold the entire contents of his 'treasure trove' shop in Bradford on Avon for £650,000.

Andrew Jenkins amassed an Aladdin's Cave of valuables at his Avon Antiques store in Market Street over the last 46 years.

The shop opened in 1963 as a single room with just a few pieces of furniture inside.

It soon grew to eight showrooms spread across the entire house, crammed with clocks, furniture, metalwork, pictures and textiles dating from the 16th to 19th centuries.

But earlier this year Andrew, 70, and his wife Vibeke decided to close the shop and just work with a few selected clients on an appointment-only basis.

On Thursday, all 238 lots were sold at the special auction, 'A West Country Tradition - Avon Antiques', at Christie's main furniture showrooms in South Kensington, London.

Rufus Bird, a director at Christie's, said: "As one of the best-known and universally liked antiques dealers, Andrew Jenkins and his treasure trove shop Avon Antiques will be much missed as Andrew embarks upon his well-earned retirement.

"This successful sale was a tribute to their taste and meticulous selection of interesting works of art and furniture.

"Their many supporters and friends contributed to the buoyant results, which further illustrates the sustained demand for traditional furniture and works of art.

The complete 238 lots raised a total of £642,100 under the hammer and the sale was completed in just over four hours.

A William and Mary walnut wing settee, dating from the late 17th century, sold for a staggering £23,750 to an anonymous buyer.

A George III mahogany bureau-cabinet, dating from circa 1780, raised £20,000 when it was sold to a UK trader.

The third highest value sale was an 18th century George II striking eight day long case clock by Thomas Odgen, which raised £18,125 when sold to a private collector.

The Jenkins' were among the founding members of the Furniture History Society and have received a string of accolades including a British Antiques and Collectibles Award.

Mr Jenkins said: "Antiques were in my blood and I've never done anything else - my mother was an antique collector and so were my grandparents.

"Looking back I can honestly say I enjoyed virtually every day of my 46-year career which is fairly unusual in this day and age.

"There were many highlights. Vibeke and I toured North America and Europe visiting clients and we did the prestigious Grosvenor House antiques fair for 26 years."

In 1963 Mr Jenkins borrowed £1,500 with his wife Vibeke and moved to Wiltshire to start his business. They spent £1,100 buying the Georgian townhouse they used as a shop.

Mr Jenkins said: "The thing people liked about our shop was how each showroom was displayed in a period setting, going from the 17th century up to the middle of the 19th.

"Each room was laid out as if you were walking through furnished rooms in a house, although there were some display cases.

"We had a drawing room and a dining room setting, but unfortunately we didn't have many four-poster beds because they are so heavy and difficult to move."

Discussing the antiques trade, Mr Jenkins said that he hopes the current devaluation of the pound will encourage sales to the wealthy North American market.

He said: "It has become the exchange of items between collectors rather than the purchase of goods for a new house."