AN ONLINE auction of motorcycle clothing and accessories from a business that went into administration has had to be suspended because of a break-in.

Walker Singleton were selling stock estimated at £500,000 in value from Frizinghall-based Nicholas Noble (UK) Ltd but the weekend burglary has forced a pause.

Howard Eastwood, a director of Walker Singleton, said: "They broke in through the roof. The broke through doors and caused a mess. Some stock has gone but we have to take an inventory to see what items were lost."

AUCTION: Bike gear worth £500,000 to be sold off

He said the landlord was owed rent and wanted the premises cleared as soon as possible and the auction of thousands of lots is now expected to be finished by next Monday.

A prospective purchaser who contacted the T&A said the the online auction seemed to be quite chaotic with lots withdrawn from sale and others mislabelled.

Mr Eastwood said that the sale process, which involved creditors claiming back items which had not been paid for, had frustrated some people and, indeed the company.

He said: "There is natural concern but there is nothing malicious."

He added that there had been 4,000 stock items in the building but "concurrent with the process were claims from suppliers".

He said suppliers had been able to take items back if it was proven that they had not been paid and the lots were removed from sale.

The said the sale had attracted "phenomenal levels of interest" with 1,400 registered bidders.

"There is frustration on our part," he said.