A rare rescue medal awarded more than 160 years ago sold for three times its auction estimate – after two of the rescuer's ancestors unwittingly became locked in a bidding war.

Pilot Richard Eddey, from Cawsand, was twice awarded the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck medal after he helped save the lives of 16 men in two separate rescues in 1824 and 1843.

The medal had a guide price of between £1,500 and £2,000 when it went under the hammer at Spink auctioneers in London two weeks ago.

Two of Mr Eddey's ancestors were so desperate to get their hands on the family heirloom they became locked in a frantic bidding war, pushing the final hammer price to £7,500.

For the full story see this week's Cornish Times.