Owners of ivory artefacts could be sleepwalking into fines and prison sentences because of a forthcoming ban on the sale of such items that has been called "one of the world's toughest".

The Government is bringing in laws to ban all ivory sales, with punishments of up to five years in prison or a £250,000 fine. The new law is meant to stifle trade in ivory and protect elephants.

However, there are some exceptions. You can buy or sell items containing ivory if they were made before 1947 and contain less than 10pc of the material by volume.

If an ivory item is a portrait miniature at least 100 years old, or is particularly rare or culturally important, it is also exempt.

Musical instruments such as pianos are also unaffected by the ban, if they were made before 1975 and contain less than 25pc ivory.

Ivory can still legally be owned and given away under the new rules.