Auctioneer Hugh Edmeads keeps proceedings under control

Some of the more mundane items fetched reasonable sums of money - a GoldenEye poster plugging a champagne brand ("The champagne of James Bond") shifting for �220, and a cinema poster for The World Is Not Enough earning �100.

But shoes actually worn by Pierce Brosnan fell �200 shy of their estimate, going for a bargain �1,300.

There was something of the 007 style in the unflappable auctioneer, who kept up a stream of banter with his colleague in the adjacent sale room.

"It's all yours, Nick," he said when a 1965 doll of Oddjob went for �190 to a buyer in the next room.

"Thank you, sir," replied the disembodied voice from next door.

Gasps and applause

There were gasps as Pierce Brosnan's diver's watch from GoldenEye sold for �6,000, and when a stunt gun from Tomorrow Never Dies went for �8,500 - over twice its estimated value.

But the applause came for Christie's coolest customer, computer entrepreneur Max Reid, who patiently held on to buy the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye for �140,000.

After shaking his business partner by the hand, he asked the auctioneer after landing his prey: "Can I have a vodka now, please?"

The only time he looked remotely worried was when the TV reporter in a tuxedo interrupted him while he was talking to the assembled journalists.

"You bastard! You beat me to my car!" Poor show, Mr Dutch Bond.

But Mr Reid remained calm and announced his intention to add the bra to the car - and go for Ursula Andress's bikini.

007 would be proud.