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A vase found at a house clearance fetched a world record £43million at auction last night.

The Chinese masterpiece had been discovered in the home of a couple who died.

Their children, who had no idea they were sitting on a fortune, will receive the windfall.

The couple's son "needed some fresh air" when the hammer went down. The fee is a record for a Chinese artefact sold at auction.

A bidder from Beijing bought the 16in vase which was made in 1740 for the Qianlong Emperor - but in more recent years was being used as an umbrella stand.

It was found in Pinner, North London, by an auction house and sold in nearby Ruislip.

Do you know the brother and sister who sold the vase? Contact the Mirror newsdesk on 0800 282 591.