A REMARKABLE collection of York chocolate memorabilia dating back 80 years has gone under the hammer.

Wombell Auctioneers in Poppleton sold off a meticulously stored collection of chococate packaging and tools. The collection had been amassed by a worker in one of York’s chocolate factories, who wants to remain anonymous.

It included a hinged 1920s Easter egg mold, a giant sugar thermometre, and 11 original pieces by French artist Raymond Peynet, which auctioneer Matt Harris thinks might have been intended for Rowntree’s Dairy Box packaging.

There were also dozens of chocolate wrappers, showing tiny changes in designs over the years.

Mr Harris said: “The collection was a fascinating thing to look through. It’s lovely to see as it’s from someone who so clearly enjoyed their job.

“It’s more interesting than something that’s worth a lot of money because this is about one man’s lifetime and his collection.”