Legendary Yorkshire fast bowler Fred Trueman raised £50,000 for his children and grandchildren after auctioning off most of his cricketing memorabilia.

The item which fetched the best price was the ball he bowled with against Australia at the Oval in 1964 when he became the first player to take 300 Test wickets. It went for £16,000 last night and the boots he was wearing on that famous day were sold for £9,500.

An original portrait painting of Trueman by John Blakey, which also went for £9,500, was among 12 items auctioned at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Trueman's MCC blazer from the 1953-54 England tour to the West Indies went for £1,400, while a ball presented to him to mark his outstanding bowling performance - eight wickets for 31 runs against India in 1952 - was sold for £1,800.

A bat signed by Trueman and other cricketing greats such as Don Bradman went for £1,200.

After last night's auction, Trueman, who is celebrating his 70th birthday, said selling the items would not mean losing the memories, which were "priceless".