Beethoven's autographed music manuscript - a sketchleaf for the slow movement of the String Quartet in C, op.59, no.3 - has fetched £241,250 at auction.

Thomas Venning, Christie's senior specialist of books and manuscripts told the BBC's Radio 3 In Tune that the auction is the second highest price paid for a Beethoven sketchleaf.

Mr Venning said the sketchleaf which was purchased by a European private collector.