A RARE guitar played by musicians from Canvey rockers Dr Feelgood, and the Divine Comedy, is expected to fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

The 1967 Fender Telecaster guitar, owned by a member of the road crew who used to work with the bands, has been put up for auction as part of a Rock and Retro sale by Staceys Auctioneers in Rayleigh.

Auctioneer and valuer Rob Smee hopes the guitar will sell for between £5,000 and £7,000... if not more.

He said: “I’m really confident the guitar will do well at auction because it’s got such a lovely local interest to it.

“The gentleman who is selling the guitar was with Dr Feelgood from the first flush of their success and he later went on to have a career in music with the Divine Comedy for about 30 years.”

Although the guitar’s owner wished to remain anonymous, he was able to fill Mr Smee in about some of the famous musicians who have previously played the guitar.

Mr Smee said: “It has been used by various popular and famous musicians.

“Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy played it at one point.

“Lee Brilleaux, from the Canvey band Dr Feelgood, also played it; he was their lead singer but did use the guitar.

“Another musician to get their hands on the guitar was Peter Perrett, who was a guitarist with a band called the Only Ones, who had a big hit with Another Girl, Another Planet.

“There was also Roman Jugg, from the Damned, and Warren Kennedy, from Eddie and the Hot Rods, which was also a band from Canvey.”

The guitar, a 1967 model which was resprayed Fiesta red in the Seventies, comes with a hard carry case.

It will be offered as part of a collection of Dr Feelgood memorabilia in the auctioneers’ Rock and Retro sale in September and will be on view on January 21, 22 and 23 from 10am to 4pm.

Mr Smee added: “With a pre auction estimate of £5,000 to £7,000 this beautiful and rare instrument is sure to conjure up memories and is a must have for any serious collector.”

Call 01268 777122 or email info@staceyauction.com for more details.