DUSTY sheets of paper long forgotten in a London auction house have shone a light on one of Britain's speed heroes.

Documents have been found which relate to the great Donald Campbell's thwarted attempt to break the land speed record in 1962.

The information would never have come to light had a porter at an auction house not found the bundle of documents hidden under a table.

Lincolnshire-based antiques dealer Paul Drewett came across the papers after he attended an auction in London several years ago.

He was successful in bidding on a 7ft red concept model of the famous boat, Bluebird. As Mr Drewett went to leave a porter rushed out to bring him a basket of documents that came with the lot, but had been left underneath a table in the auction house.

Inside were the papers relating to Mr Campbell. Mr Drewett said: "I was as shocked as anyone that they were there. When I realised what they were I kept the documents because they could be historically important to the nation."

Some of the items unearthed included:

- Donald Campbell's personal copy of a 1962 contract with BP Trading, outlining his proposed Australian land speed record attempt;

- Cost estimates of the trials for Bluebird on the Utah Salt Flats in 1960; and

- Detailed costings for a vehicle to push past the 400mph land speed barrier.

Robert Miller, managing director of the Hemswell Antique Centres in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, said: "Paul, who is one of our traders in The Guardroom, showed me the documents and I agree that they could be of national interest. They are a fascinating insight into the life of a British hero."

Mr Campbell was killed on January 4 1967 as he tried to break the world water speed record.

He successfully made one run on the lake, but on the return journey his boat took off from the water, killing him instantly as it crashed back down.

The hunt is now on for Mr Drewett to find a new owner who would want to guard the items.

It is estimated the documents could be worth several thousand pounds to the right collector.

Read more about the speed pioneer:

Donald Campbell's daughter paid a heartfelt tribute to her father on the anniversary of his death

Restorations of the iconic Bluebird continue, with a dream of one way taking it back to the water