TWO pieces of land put up for auction by Cornwall Council have sold for sums far in excess of their guide prices.

The council asked Clive Emson Auctioneers to market the two parcels of land off Burngullow Lane in High Street near St Austell.

Both parcels of land are located next to a terrace of cottages and each was listed with a freehold guide price of £500.

One of the plots, measuring about 0.13 hectares (0.31 acres) and with an outbuilding, sold for £40,050.

The other smaller plot, measuring about 0.04 hectares (0.1 acres) and being informally used as a storage space, fetched £15,500.

The next auction by Clive Emson Auctioneers concludes on March 20, with bidding live 48 hours beforehand.