ANTIQUE hunter Alan Blakeman managed to break a world record TWICE by auctioning off two empty glass bottles for more than £30,000 each.

Alan has been a collector since 1968 when a broken bottle found on a walk sparked his curiosity - and a life-long passion which turned into a career.

Former Wath Comprehensive School teacher Alan left the profession in 1987 to work on two magazines, one of which - BBR - shares its name with the Elsecar site that serves as a saleroom.

On July 6, Alan closed the 32nd Summer National Auction event at Elsecar, which boasted visitors from New Zealand, Australia, America and Saudi Arabia.

The previous record for a Hiram Codd invented marble bottle was just under £13,000 in 2013 - and Alan admits many thought it would never be beaten.

But tensions were running high on the day and an amber pointed ended bottle, attributed to being made in Barnsley, smashed the record when the hammer fell at £30,000.

And it wasn’t long until the record was toppled again, with a blue bottle selling for £33,000.

Alan told the Chronicle: “All were in disbelief in the room.

“The previous record was £13,000 so we effectively beat that twice.

“It is just an empty bottle so it’s amazing that it’s been able to go for so much.

“But there’s a huge following for it.

“Despite what you see on TV, the antique fields have generally collapsed.

“Grandfather clocks used to bring in a lot of money - but glass bottles, which were once scoffed at, now have a huge following.

“I remember a bottle going for £100 when I first started and people thought that was ludicrous.

“But now it’s gone for £33,000.”