A demo recording made by a 16-year-old David Bowie has been sold at auction after being found in an old bread basket.

Recorded in a small studio in south London, a teenage Bowie ‘I Never Dreamed’ was recorded alongside his first ever band The Konrads. The track, sent to neighbouring record label Decca for consideration, was ultimately rejected.

The tape was rediscovered by David Hadfield, former drummer of The Konrads, who found it in a bread basket while moving house. The demo went to auction and was expected to fetch in excess of £10,000. However, Omega Auctions explained how a “bidding frenzy” forced the price to increase and it was eventually sold at quadruple its valuation and bidding ended at £39,360.

“We had decided that we would do a couple of guitar instrumentals and one original song,” said Hadfield. “I chose I Never Dreamed as it was the strongest, the other two were a bit weak. I also decided that David was the best person to sing it and give the right interpretation. So this became the very first recording of David Jones singing 55 years ago.

He added: “So this became the very first recording of David Jones singing 55 years ago.”