AFTER a little sole searching, Brian Bennett has decided to part with a collection built up after 50 years in the shoe trade.

Brian, 70, who lives in Amble in Northumberland, began work in a shoe shop at the age of 15.

He worked his way up to be area manager for the shoe firm of HP Tyler and toured a total of 56 shops.

From his early days, Brian began collecting odd pairs of shoes which had been forgotten about in store rooms or were considered out of date.

Now he is selling around 20 pairs tomorrow at the Newcastle auction house of Anderson & Garland.

Some, like a pair of men’s shoes with a basket weave feature, date from the Edwardian era.

There are also several pairs of leather clogs with wooden “tramline” soles, kid leather children’s boots, and 1940’s shoes bearing the official government utility mark.

Also for sale is a pair of platform sole shoes as worn by 1950’s movie star Carmen Miranda, and boys’ old-fashioned high-ankle football boots with heavy toe caps and leather studs.

“Wearing those football boots, I don’t know how they lifted their feet in those days,” said Brian.

“I started collecting because of the age and quality of the shoes. They were out of date and they would have just been thrown away.

“But they were so well made in those days and some would have been made by hand, and they have never seen the pavement.

“I’ve had many offers for the shoes over the years and always refused, but have now decided to sell some of the collection.”

Brian’s wife Kathleen runs the Classic Footwear by Shaws shop in Amble.

She is continuing a family tradition, as her grandfather ran the WL Shaw shoe shop in the town.

Brian remembers a time when most people would have their shoes repaired rather than buying new ones.

“Now it’s a throwaway society and fashion changes quickly,” said Brian. “In the 1950s, it never seemed to change and all most people wanted was a comfort shoe.”

The collection is expected to fetch several hundred pounds.

Rod Meek, auctioneer at Anderson & Garland said: “I have not seen anything like the collection before. The items are in fantastic condition and will be very appealing to many people.

“I anticipate the collection will attract collectors as well as buyers of stage and TV/film props – and anyone with a whim to own something really different.”