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The ashes of the Coronation Street cat, Frisky, who died ten years ago, have been sold at auction for almost six times the expected price.

Furious bidding by soap fans meant the wooden casket carrying the cat's remains fetched £844 at an auction in Gloucestershire.

The tabby cat starred in the starting sequence of more than 1,000 episodes of the Manchester soap.

The ashes had been predicted to fetch no more than £150.

The lot, which was sold to a private bidder, also included a cremation certificate and postcards of Frisky with other Weatherfield stars.

His owner, John Rimington, from Leeds, said before the auction he hoped the ashes would go to an "avid Corrie fan".

Chris Albury, of Dominic Winter Auctioneers, in South Cerney, said: "Not only was Frisky one of the most recognised cats in the country for over a decade, but he also became synonymous with one of the nation's favourite soaps."

Frisky, who won the role in 1990 after beating off competition from 5,000 other cats, died in 2000 from stomach cancer at the age of 14.