Sooty puppet from Matthew Corbett's last stage show sells for £650
The Sooty puppet used by Matthew Corbett in his last stage show has been sold for £650 at an auction in Dorset.
Sooty was sold at Duke's Auctioneers in Dorchester to raise money for the charity Whizz-Kidz, which provides wheelchairs for disabled children.
The puppet was used by Corbett during the The House That Sooty Built stage show at London's Bloomsbury Theatre in 1997.
The buyer's identity has not been disclosed by the auctioneers.
John Holmes, salesroom manager at Duke's Auctioneers, said: "Obviously we are very happy to do things for charity.
"We were expecting between £300 and £500 so we've done very well for a well loved item and we're happy with the outcome."
The puppet has a split body to allow for quick hand entry during performances.
The paws are described as "slightly distressed" due to the glue that was used to help Sooty hold on to his magic wand during performances.
Sooty was offered along with a number of other items including a magic wand, books, badges and rosettes.
The puppet comes with a signed letter from John Seaton, the Sooty & Co Company stage manager between 1988 and 1998.