A CHINESE vase bought by a Lyme Regis man from an antique shop for a few hundred pounds sold at auction for £110,000.

It's delighted owner from Lyme Regis had been told to expect only between £2,000 and £3,000 for it because it was damaged.

The price surprised and thrilled everyone at the Bearne's summer sale at Exeter on Tuesday.

Nic Saintey, head of ceramics at the salerooms, said: "We knew we had something special when there was so much interest in the vase so we revised the estimate just before the sale. But even we were amazed when the hammer finally fell."

The 15-inch high porcelain vase was produced in the reign of the Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), and carries his seal mark on the base. It is finely modelled with 'S' shaped sceptre handles that mimicked cloissonne enamelled originals terminating in bats' heads symbolising, longevity, prosperity and happiness.

It is delicately gilt with the "precious things" emblematic of the eight Buddhist immortals. These include the fan of Chung-li Chuan which was capable of reviving the dead, the sword of Lu Tung-pin that could dispel evil spirits and the Gourd of Li T'ieh-kuai that contained magical cures.

Mr Saintey said it had obviously brought good luck for its owner who bought it from a Bridport shop in the mid 1980s for a few hundred pounds.

He said he thought the vase - sold to the London trade - would soon be returning home.

"The recent opening up of the Chinese economy means that their are now plenty of newly affluent collectors on the market for these later Oriental pieces," he said. "They are willing to dig deep to buy the right piece and this obviously was the right piece!"