An auction house's Country Sporting Sale will include their best ever taxidermy section.

Mitchells Country Sporting Sale in Cockermouth next week will feature over 1,000 lots, including more than 50 traditional and modern mounts and a private collection of African and European taxidermy from a west Cumbrian home.

The most valuable lot amongst the taxidermy is expected to be a Van Ingen of Mysore Leopard shoulder mount which is expected to make £1,200-£1,800.

News and Star: SALE: A Water Buck is expected to make £200 to £300SALE: A Water Buck is expected to make £200 to £300

Several artistic modern mounts by Robert Reed of Sussex Taxidermy have estimates of £200-£300 and include a pair of Ermin Stoats, a Brown Trout catching a mayfly, a Hooked Trout and one-metre tall taxidermy of a pair of mink underwater, their bodies wrapped around green reeds. There are also some African and European shoulder mounts including a Water Buck, a Nyala and a Red Lechwe which are expected to make £200-£300 each.

News and Star: VALUABLE: A fine pair of J Lang 12 bore side by side ejectors with an estimate of £6,000-£8,000VALUABLE: A fine pair of J Lang 12 bore side by side ejectors with an estimate of £6,000-£8,000

The most valuable lot in the sale is expected to be a fine pair of J Lang 12 bore side by side ejectors with an estimate of £6,000-£8,000.

The guns have been in the same family since they were made in 1914. Also for sale in the gun section are a George Armstrong Whitworth type Rifle valued at £700-£1,000, a WW Greener 12 bore shotgun and an Enfield Military 303 rifle dated 1919 which are both expected to make £400-£600 each.

The fishing section comprises a range of rods, reels and tackle by well-known makers and includes a Hardy Zenith sintrix salmon fly rod with an estimate of £200-£300 and three Hardy ultralite fly reels with estimates of £100-£150 each.

A Judi Mendelson watercolour and gouache is expected to make £80-£120.

Lots can be viewed in person at Mitchells town centre saleroom on April 25 and 26. The sale takes place on April 27 to 29.

An illustrated catalogue can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com/Mitchells where buyers can also register to bid live online.