It was a case of going, going, gone - but it's now coming, coming here!Popular monthly auctions - which were an institution in Dereham over many years - returned to the town on Tuesday after a break of nearly a year.

It was a case of going, going, gone - but it's now coming, coming back!

Popular monthly auctions - an institution in Dereham over many years - returned to the town on Tuesday after a break of nearly a year.

The sales ended last year when auctioneer John Dewing died.

More than 350 lots went under the hammer in just three hours under Steve Long, owner of Necton-based Norfolk House Clearance Company. Although he had been to auctions since he was a child, it was the first time he or his company had run an auction.

'It was a bit nerve-wracking for the first 20 minutes but it was a total success,' he said. 'There has been a gap after the death of John. I used to come when he did the auctions and he is sorely missed. It seems a natural thing for me to do and the last piece of the jigsaw for my business.'

Mr Long said some items went cheaper than he had expected and others didn't sell at all.

An art deco chair, a Georgian table, a late-Victorian hallrobe and French bed were among the 600 items in the sale at the Memorial Hall.

Town clerk Tony Needham said: 'I think it is brilliant that the auctions are back. It gets the hall used and brings people into the town. While they are in Dereham they will do other things, and it is even better that it is a local firm doing it.'

For details of future sales visit www.norfolkhcc.co.uk