A small, corroded key for a locker on the doomed Titanic passenger liner has sold for £85,000 at auction.

The key was used by Sidney Sedunary, 23, from Shirley, Southampton - a third-class steward and one of the 1,500 passengers and crew who died when the vessel hit an iceberg in April 1912.

The key, which is attached to a brass tag stamped "Locker 14 F Deck", is believed to show Mr Sedunary was working on the F Deck on the night the Titanic sank.

It was sent to Mr Sedunary's pregnant wife Madge after his body was recovered and remained in the family until the sale.

The "exceptionally rare" item, which was expected to fetch £50,000, was sold at auction by Titanic memorabilia specialists Henry Aldridge & Son along with hundreds of other items from the iconic vessel.

Other lots included a letter written by the ship's second officer Charles Lightoller.

The note, which revealed Mr Lightoller's parting moments with the vessel's assistant surgeon Dr John Simpson, fetched £34,000 at the auction.

A letter written by the ship's second officer sold for £35,000. Credit: Henry Aldridge and Son/PA Wire

They were all perfectly calm in the knowledge that they had done their duty and were still assisting by showing a calm and cool exterior to the passengers. Each one individually came up to me and shook hands. We merely exchanged the words 'goodbye, old man'. This occurred shortly before the end and I am not aware that he was seen by anyone after. Letter written by Charles Lightoller

A postcard written on board the Titanic by chief wireless operator Jack Phillips sold for £19,000.

Mr Phillips stayed at his post to send distress messages as the ship sunk and is believed to have drowned.