A signed note rock legend Jimi Hendrix gave to an English 'Foxy Lady' who bewitched him 50 years ago has sold for £7,000.

Anthea Connell was aged 19 when the American guitarist leapt off the stage and walked over to her in a concert hall in Lincolnshire in 1967.

He signed the back of a guitar strings packet and told her to 'stay sweet' when his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, were getting ready for a gig.

Mrs Connell, now 69, decided to sell her rare signature. It had an estimate of £3,000 but sold for a hammer price of £5,700. With fees added on the buyer paid £7,239 for the item.

Anthea Connell was aged 19 when the American guitarist leapt off the stage and walked over to her in a concert hall in Lincolnshire in 1967

He signed the back of a guitar strings packet and told her to 'stay sweet' when his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, were getting ready for a gig

Mrs Connell intends to spend the proceeds on plane tickets to New Zealand for her and husband Steve to see relatives.

She said: 'It exceeded any expectations I might have had. I'd really like to thank Jimi for the memories of meeting him all those years ago and for his very lucrative signature.

'The money will go towards air tickets for a trip to New Zealand. I hope Jimi would approve. It's certainly a bit more rock 'n' roll than buying a new boiler or double glazing.

'I told my dad, who is 102, about the sale and he said "you always liked to be the centre of attention!"'

Mrs Connell, then Anthea Rogers, had gone to the gig with her then boyfriend, Eddie Cooke, whose local band, Sons & Lovers, were supporting Jimi Hendrix at the Starlight Room in Boston, Lincolnshire, on March 25, 1967.

She was sat on her own watching the bands warm up when Hendrix spotted the beautiful young woman.

Mrs Connell was so starstruck she cannot remember what they talked about but Hendrix then asked his band for something to write on.

Mrs Connell, then Anthea Rogers, had gone to the gig with her then boyfriend, Eddie Cooke, whose local band, Sons & Lovers, were supporting Jimi Hendrix at the Starlight Room in Boston, Lincolnshire, on March 25, 1967

Anthea Conell looking shocked after finding out what her Hendrix autograph sold for

Mrs Connell intends to spend the proceeds on plane tickets to New Zealand for her and husband Steve to see relatives

Anthea Connell, from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire, on the beach in the late 1960s

On the back of the guitar string packet he wrote: 'To Anthea. Love and kisses to you forever. I wish I could really talk to you. Stay sweet. Jimi Hendrix.'

Mrs Connell, from West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, said: 'He started talking to me and I was so shocked I can't even remember what we said.

'I must have mumbled something but have no recollection of it. I was totally awestruck. Jimi Hendrix was a complete icon.

'He turned to his band members on the stage and asked one of the guys to give him something to write on. He came back with a guitar string packets, which may well have been his, and he proceeded to write me this wonderful message on the back.

'I think it was because, at the time, I was the only girl in the ballroom.

'Afterwards, when I told Eddie about the note from Jimi, he said "you ought to hang on to it" - and I did.'

Her husband Steve, who she has been married to for 15 years, said: 'Having seen photos of her in the 1960s (left), I can understand why Jimi went over'

Her husband Steve, who she has been married to for 15 years, said: 'Having seen photos of her in the 1960s, I can understand why Jimi went over.'

Charles Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, which sold the note, said: 'This is a rare and precious piece of music memorabilia that many fans and collectors would love to own.

'Jimi Hendrix, a rock legend, created a special memory that has lasted a lifetime for Anthea. That provenance makes it even more special.'

Hendrix moved to England in late 1966 and within months had earned three UK top ten hits with his band the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Jimi Hendrix signatures are not that common because he died in 1970, aged 27, from an overdose of sleeping pills.