A first edition of the Beano comic has been sold at auction for a record price of �7,500.

The comic, dated 30 July 1938, is one of only nine first editions of the Beano known to exist.

Comic Book Postal Auctions, who sold the rare comic, say it beats the previous record for a Beano number one, which sold in 1999 complete with its whoopee mask for �6,800.

The original owner of the Beano had hidden it under a sofa in his home in Linclon for four decades.

Dennis the Menace

Malcolm Phillips, from Comic Book Postal Auctions, said there was strong interest in the comic.

Mr Phillips said: "It is definitely a record for a British comic sold at auction, and we have a possible sale of a Dandy first edition coming up in the new year.

Many comics were pulped during World War II

The buyer is an unidentified Hertfordshire book collector in his 50s who said the comic "will provide many years of pleasure as a reminder of my childhood".

Mr Phillips said the buyer planned to show and read the comic to his grandchildren.

The comic had a small thumb-size piece missing on the margin and was light tan in colour with some "foxing" or tiny brown spots on some pages.

The Beano has been one of the most popular comics in Britain with its favourite character Dennis the Menace, who does not feature in the first edition.

Characters which are featured include Eggo, an ostrich, Lord Snooty and Morgyn the Mighty, a strongman.

Mr Phillips said many of the comics would have been pulped during World War II to help the war effort.