The sale at Mander Auctioneers, in Church Street, included an album of letters written by both twins to a friend, and photos of them as younger men, which alone fetched £780.

A cottage-shaped musical jewellery box, hand decorated by the Krays during their time in prison and given to the same friend as a Christmas present, sold for £320.

A signed first edition of Reggie's 1991 autobiography, Born Fighter, also went for £130, bringing the sale of Kray items to a total of £1,230.

Auctioneer James Mander sold the items on behalf of the son of the man who was a long-standing friend of the twins and the recipient of all their tokens of friendship.

Mr Mander said: "The people that bought the cottage and the album, they collect Kray memorabilia, so I should think the jewel in their crown will be this strange cottage.

"We've got a database now of people who want Kray memorabilia."

steve.barton@haverhillecho.com