SUTTON Kersh has raised more than £3m from its latest Liverpool property auction.

The event took place at the Marriott Hotel in Queen Square, Liverpool city centre, with 89 lots going under the hammer, of which 54 were sold.

High levels of pre-auction activity resulted in 19 properties being sold prior to the event.

A further 35 lots were sold in the room, taking the total sales percentage to 65% – the firm’s best result since June, 2009.

The auction started with seven of the opening nine lots being sold.

Lot one, a development opportunity in Hartington Road, in Toxteth, proved to be the star lot of the day, selling for almost double its guide price.

The substantial three-storey property, comprising three self-contained flats, and a plot of land to the side, was highlighted as being suitable for redevelopment.

Following competitive bidding from numerous interested parties, the property that was guided at £50,000 achieved a sale price of £95,000.

The “bargain” lot of the day was a three-bedroom mid-terraced property in Crocus Street, in Anfield.

Described as being in need of full repair and modernisation and as having severe structural defects, the property was guided at £5,000 and sold in the room for £16,500.

A mixed-used investment property in Knowsley Road, in Bootle, also realised at well in excess of its guide price.

The mid-terraced building is arranged over two floors and comprises two vacant shop units on the ground floor and two, two-bedroom flats on the upper floor. Guided at £40k-£45k, it was sold in the room for £65,500.

Cathy Holt, auction manager at Sutton Kersh, said: “I am delighted with the result.

“It was encouraging to see so many investors in attendance and so many competitive bidding wars.”