Costumes auctioned off in Calne in a bid to get a group of young actors to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Anything But Ordinary Productions Young Actors Company rehearses weekly in Calne Town Hall, with the professional branch of the company, and is desperate to perform at the world’s largest arts festival in August.

The six girls involved, aged from 14 to 19, are planning to perform Be My Baby by Amanda Whittington in the Scottish capital.

Artistic director Dix Aston said: “This is the first time this group of girls will have been to the festival, so they’re very excited.

“They’ve just started working on the play and it’s coming along very well. They’re a great group of girls.”

The costumes were bought through Bonhams in London, in 2007, by the company’s musical director, Gareth Williams.

The sale was believed to have been the largest archive of film and television costumes to come to auction.

He donated the authenticated outfits, supplied by long-established theatrical and film costumiers Angels, to the actors to swell their fundraising pot.

Closed bidding on the costumes, which also include items from Half A Sixpence, The Darling Buds of May and The Fifth Element – the latter designed by Jean Paul Gaultier – started on Monday and will be open until Friday, February 28.

Ms Aston said: “They’re ecstatic to be able to auction off the costumes. Every year they put on a production, so any money left from the auction will go back into production costs.

“Gareth bought the costumes as a long-term investment, so I think they are very lucky that he has donated them.”

The costumes can be seen at www.anythingbutordinary-productions.com/film-theatre-costumes

Potential bidders can also arrange a personal viewing of the lots.

To take part in the auction, email abopyacedfringe@btinternet.com or call the ABOP office on 01793 849963 or 07961 805625.