A UNIQUE Chinese painting was sold for £1.9million in Salisbury on Tuesday morning.

The Northern Girl, by Yang Fei Yun, was included in Woolley & Wallis's Chinese paintings sale, offered on behalf of the Roddick Charitable Foundation.

There was standing room only, with two full rows of telephone bidders at the back. Fifteen minutes of bidding between many interested parties saw the hammer price climb gradually.

Deputy chairman John Axford was on the rostrum and, after whittling down the bidders, to two in the room, the hammer finally came down at £1.7 million, making a final total of £1,969,000 including buyer’s premium.

He said: "We were hoping the painting might make up to £500,000 but we and the charity are both thrilled with the result."