A COUNCIL may join in auction room bidding for Victorian pottery.

A Newcastle auctioneer is putting a collection of sought-after Linthorpe Pottery under the hammer next week.

Experts from the council at Middlesbrough, the original home of the pottery, will join other collectors in viewing the 75 lots up for auction at Thomas Watson's.

Middlesbrough Council has the most comprehensive public collection of Linthorpe Pottery in Britain, and is continually seearching to enhance its collection.

The pottery is associated with the Victorian designer Christopher Dresser, whose name makes the ceramic ware highly collectable, stimulating worldwide interest in the auction in Newcastle, on Tuesday.

Ken Sedman, the curator at Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum said: "We are always interested in acquiring new pieces and continue to add to our collection through donations or purchases.

"While we cannot discuss individual bids, we are always interested in adding to our collection.

"We have recently acquired a number of new pieces including an unusual design that was donated to the museum.

"These will be on display for the first time in our new exhibition, The First Industrial Designer - Christopher Dresser, which opens on October 2 and will run until February 27."

The council said the pieces in the auction would be viewed before any decision was made on bidding.

Auctioneer David Strain said he expected a great deal of interest in the sale.