ALMOST 400 bargain hunters went head-to-head Oxford City Council's annual vehicle and equipment auction.

More than 200 items of council paraphernalia including vehicles, gardening equipment, trailers, generators, power tools, chainsaws and trimmers were sold at theCowley depot in Marsh Road.

Not a single item remained unsold at the Saturday[26/4] auction, now in its 19th year.

It was hosted by Milton Keynes Motor Stadium Auctions, which first started the Oxford auction in 1996.

A Renault Master Truck was the most expensive item sold on the day, for £6,000, after 10 bidders competed for the vehicle.

Auctioneer Mick Blacow from Milton Keynes, who has been an auctioneer at the Oxford City Council vehicle and equipment auction for 19 years, said: “We were selling all sorts of things such as chainsaws, hedge trimmers, normal strimmers and vehicles.

“There were over 200 items being sold today and it went on for two and a half hours.

“We had a £6,000 pick-up truck, a Renault Master Truck, and that was the most expensive item that was sold.

“The bidding process started at £3,000 and there were around 10 bidder. Altogether we had about three to four hundred people.”

Landscape gardener from Sutton Courtenay, Chris Brinkley, was one of the hundreds of people who headed to the Cowley auction looking to grab a few bargains.

The 40-year-old walked away with a steel trimmer for £180 valued at £660, a hedge cutter for £200 valued at £550 and some garden drills.

The married dad-of-three, who has lived in Sutton Courtenay for 10 years, said: “It was really good and I got some good little bargains.

“I think all the items went for reasonable prices and there were about three or four bidders per item.

“It was a great atmosphere and everyone was really friendly. This is the first one I have been to and I would definitely go again.

“There were also a few vehicles on sale like trucks and vans and they were going for £2,000 to £6,000.”

Other items sold on the day included snow ploughs, lamp posts, mobile elevating work platforms, a metal cabinet with a broken lock, lea- blowers and vending machines.

Prior to the auction, council press officer Chofamba Sithole said: “We sell off items that we no longer require.

“This could be for reasons such as that technology has advanced or there are variations to specifications that no longer require this equipment.”