Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler's guitars have sold for more than £8m in auction

Guitars and amps belonging to Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler have sold for more £8 million in an auction - much higher than was estimated.

Over 120 of his collection was sold, with 25% of the proceeds going to charity.

Speaking to BBC News about the guitars in November, he said, "I hope they all get played, I don't think they do too well living in a case all their lives."

The sale was led with the record-breaking sale of his 1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard, which achieved an astounding £693,000 and set a new world auction record for its model.

The sale also included the 1983 Les Paul that Knopfler used to record Money For Nothing and Brothers In Arms, and which he played on stage at Live Aid in 1985. It had an estimated price of £10,000 - £15,000 but sold for £592,000.

The first electric acoustic guitar Knopfler owned had an estimate of £5,000 but sold for £126,000.

The auction, held at Christie's in London, witnessed participation from registered bidders and buyers spanning 61 countries. The final tally, including buyer's premium, reached an impressive £8,840,160.

At least a quarter of the proceeds from the auction will be divided equally and donated to the British Red Cross, Tusk, and Brave Hearts of the North East.

Teenage Cancer Trust will receive all of the £403,200 raised from Knopfler's 2021 Gibson Les Paul "gold top" guitar - signed by 33 stars including the late Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, Sir Brian May, Sting, Sir Ringo Starr and Bruce Springsteen.

Auction house Christie's will also donate £50,000 to each of the four charities, it said.