A LAND Rover ambulance that had a starring role in popular television dramas is going under the hammer.

The 1967 vehicle, affectionately known as Annie, appeared in much-loved TV series Heartbeat and The Royal and is now being sold off in a Dorset auctioneer's sale. 

She has 'North Riding Ambulance' on her bodywork due to her fictional role as an ambulance for characters coming a cropper in the Yorkshire-set TV series.

The Charterhouse auction of classic cars will take place on October 5 at the Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford.

Richard Bromell, of the Sherborne auction house, said: "Annie is one of five Land Rovers in the auction.

“However, she is the only one to have starred in the hugely popular TV series Heartbeat and The Royal, hence the North Riding Ambulance livery applied to the bodywork.”

Annie the Ambulance was made by specialist coachbuilders Herbert Lomas.

Dorset Echo: Annie the AmbulanceAnnie the Ambulance (Image: Charterhouse)

Constructed with a wooden frame and aluminium clad body, Annie was treated to a new galvanised chassis and underwent restoration in the mid-2000s.

Today she is a rare survivor and understood to be the sole Herbert Lomas Land Rover civilian ambulance still operational today.

Dorset Echo: Inside Annie the Ambulance Inside Annie the Ambulance (Image: Charterhouse)

Estimated at £8,000-10,000 she has been partially converted for use as a camper van. However, this has been fitted to enable easy removal should the next owner wish to revert back to an ambulance ready for film work or taken to classic vehicle shows.

All vehicles in this classic car auction can be seen on www.charterhouse-auction.com where live internet bidding is also available.