A LIMITED edition vase designed by Pablo Picasso was snapped up for a record-breaking £30,000 at auction.

The 15ins tall black and white vase, which is decorated with an abstract female figure, was found among the belongings of a Westcliff resident who recently died.

Stacey's Auctioneers, in Websters Way, Rayleigh, were instructed to sort through the haul of belongings with the view of making a sale on behalf of the beneficiaries of the resident's estate.

Mark Stacey, who runs the auction house, was amazed to uncover the iconic piece.

He said: "It was part of an estate were were called to value. We knew it was very interesting and found it was limited edition piece.

"The provenance is that it was owned by Emile Littler, a former 20th century British theatre director. It has been passed down to his descendants."

Stacey's originally "conservatively" estimated a sale price of up to £4,000.

This was revised to an estimate of £12,000, and up to £18,000 after receiving an initial bid of £12,000 was submitted ahead of the start of the auction.

A number of international bidders lined up by phone to take part in the auction.

Mr Stacey added: "We had two French bidders who pushed the price up to £30,000. We believe it may be a record for a Picasso vase of this size.

The white earthenware vase painted in white, grey and black with impressed marks for Madoura, a pottery factory where Picasso created his ceramics for more than two decades until his death.

The beneficiary of the estate lives in London and was yesterday yet to be informed of the auction result.