Auctions: Time to head out of town

THE LONDON auction rooms are empty apart from Phillips, which has an exhibition of 60 Shell posters by Ben Nicholson, Paul Nash, John Armstrong, Graham Sutherland and others (9am-5pm weekdays only, until 28 August). It is time to go out of town, particularly to those auction houses recently bought out by their managers from the insurance companies and building societies that snapped them up during the property boom.

Bourne: Antiques Thursday (10am), clocks and watches (5.30pm). Lots include a Victorian parlour suite, Victorian and Edwardian bedroom furniture. Bourne Auction Rooms, Spalding Road (0778 422686).

Salford: Pawnbrokers' unredeemed pledges. Small reserve prices on some lots, Thursday (11am). Artingstall and Hind, 39 Cobden Street, Pendleton (061 736 5682).

Ilkley: Antique furniture, ceramics, paintings, jewellery, silver, Wednesday (10am). Andrew Hartley, Victoria Hall, Little Lane (0943 816363).

Newport: J Collingbourne is now selling household and office furniture, pub fittings, unredeemed jewellery, Thursday (5.30pm). Dockland Distributor Road (0633 215853).

Leeds: Printed books, maps, ephemera and a large collection of cigarette cards spanning 40 years in 35 lots. Postcard signed in 1943 by Marlene Dietrich, Olivia de Havilland and more, estimated pounds 300- pounds 500. Phillips, Hepper House, 17a East Parade (0532 448011).

Warrington: Bargain DIY tools, Tuesday (10.30am). Littons, Guardian Street (0925 572199).

Leyburn: Victorian and Edwardian furniture, glass, Thursday (10am). Tennants, Harmby Road (0969 23780).

Birmingham: Police lost and recovered goods: televisions, stereos, tools, clothing, bicycles, Thursday (10.30am). Fellows & Sons, 19 Augusta Street, Hockley (021-212 2131).

Countrywide sales from Antiques Trade Gazette (071-930 4957), Government Auction News (071- 734 8291/4), Saleroom and Auction Monthly (081-336 0393).