The owner of the largest collection of Dinky toys ever to go on sale in Britain admitted yesterday that he had mixed feelings about the auction.

Retired businessman John Kennerley has agreed to sell his enormous collection after more than 50 years tracking down the miniature cars, buses and planes.

Collectors from all over the world are expected to converge on Teesside next month for the sale.

Up for auction will be 1,800 lots made up of more than 3,000 Dinky and Corgi toys, which are expected to fetch at least £250,000.

One of the most sought after items is a pre-war Ensign van, which would have originally cost fourpence (4d) but is now expected to fetch about £2,500.

Mr Kennerley, 62, was managing director of Vernons Pools and grew up in Heswall, Wirral. He moved to Australia in 1980.

From his Sydney home, the father of two said yesterday that it took nearly a week to pack the toys, which had been held in a warehouse before they were shipped to Britain.

He said: "It was such hard work, so after all the sweat, dirt and tiredness I was glad to see the back of them.

"There will be sadness, of course, next month but I made the decision of my own free will.

"Now I'm looking forward to it being a successful auction which will bear credence to all that effort I put in collecting them all."

He started collecting the toys as a boy and as he got older Dinky issued one toy a week at a cost of sixpence.

Later he used business contacts to add more examples to his treasured collection.

Mr Kennerley said: "I would be chatting to fellow businessmen on the train between Liverpool and London.

"Very often, if they were the only son, they would tell me that their mother had wrapped up their toys and just put them away.

"I used to contact their mothers. I bought many toys like that which had simply been put away for a rainy day."

The sale has been arranged by Vectis Auctions for May 8 and 9 at its base in Thornaby, where a preview for the sale was held yesterday.

Vectis chairman Bryan Goodall said: "This is the largest collection of Dinky toys to come on the market.

"To see this many Dinkys laid out in one room is exceptional."

Mr Kennerley expects the collection to be broken up and sent round the world to individual collectors.

He said: "The collection has got as big as it ever will. Many people do not necessarily collect the whole range, they look for buses, or planes or sports cars.

"I fully realise that items will go to individual collectors to fill gaps.

"I know the excitement of finding one you haven't got is the driving force."

* For more details about the sale contact Vectis Auctions on (01642) 750616.