A COPY of the first edition of irreverent cult comic Viz, priced at just 20p, has sold at auction for nearly £500.

The comic, which introduced characters such as Sid the Sexist, Billy the Fish and the Fat Slags, was first published 25 years ago.

The first edition fetched £483 at the Anderson and Garland auction house, in Newcastle, when it was bought by a private Northumberland collector of Viz memorabilia.

John Anderson, collectables specialist at the firm, said: "Ours is one of only 150 copies of the comic.

"It was first published 25 years ago this month for a modest 20p.

"The initial 250 copies were snapped up so quickly they immediately had to order a reprint."

Viz creator Chris Donald was only 19 when he and his brother Simon launched the comic from their home in Newcastle.

At its peak, the publication sold more than a million and still sells 238,000 per issue.

Mr Donald quit the comic as editor in 1999 and his brother has since left, although they continue to own half of the magazine as part of the Viz editorial team.

The other half is owned by Dennis Publishing Ltd.

Rude Kid - The Unfeasible Story of Viz, by Chris Donald, was published in September to mark the comic's 25th anniversary.