A unique collection of steam-driven fairground rides is expected to fetch �1m when it goes under the hammer.

Large crowds are expected at the small village of Carrington, near Boston in Lincolnshire at Saturday's sale.

Traction engines, organs and the rides will all be demonstrated by the auctioneers Cheffins who have said it is a once in a lifetime auction.

The collection was brought together by Fred Coupland, who died in January of this year, but is being split up by the executors of his estate.

Steam great

Among the collection is a famous steam double yacht ride called "Columia and Shamrock".

It is one of only two sets surviving, it was built by Savage Bros Ltd of Kings Lynn in 1901 and is described as historically important by the auctioneers.

Traction Engines powered the fairground rides

Auctioneer Bill King said: "I think you can say it is a unique auction.

"We are expecting bumper crowds from all over - there will be a lot of people here for a day out."

He said he believed Mr Coupland would go down as one of the great steam preservationists the country has seen.

"Fred Coupland put together an amazing collection.

Crowd control

"I think had he lived longer he may have put this into some sort of trust - it is sad it is being broken up."

Organs will be played at Saturday's sale

Mr Coupland had run a drainage business which covered an area from Yorkshire to Essex.

He got interested in steam through his agricultural connections, said Mr King.

"As a firm we have not seen anything like this.

"There have been sales of other steam collections, but this is really the top sale there has been in living memory.

"We are just hoping we can cope with the number of people who come."

An auction of Mr Coupland's modern drainage machinery is taking place on Friday.