Thousands of buyers from 50 countries around the world flocked to Newmarket for the biggest auction of its kind in the world - with £20 million set to be spent.

Tattersalls’ Autumn Horses in Training sale is running all this week as owners from across the globe come to pick up a bargain from Britain’s best stables.

Around 1,500 horses will go up for auction at Tattersalls’ sales room in Terrace House, with some of the top horses set selling for as much as 280,000 guineas - nearly £300,000.

Unlike a lot of Tattersalls’ other big auctions, all the horses up for grabs have run competitively.

Marketing director Jimmy George said: “It’s an incredibly popular sale. Overseas buyers love to come here because they can get horses that maybe haven’t made the grade here, but could excel in other countries where racing isn’t as competitive.”

Tattersalls is the oldest bloodstock auctioneer in the world and the biggest in Europe, with an annual turnover of £225 million from only 15 sales every year.

Mr George added: “We’re in Newmarket because it is the centre of British racing and breeding, even the centre of racing and breeding in Europe.

“We’re very committed to the town and hopefully the influx of people into the town is good for the local economy.”