A RARE copy of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled first album that turned up in a high street charity shop has sold at auction for £900.

The valuable record was anonymously donated to Oxfam in Chequer Street, St Albans, a few months ago along with a bag of other unwanted vinyl LPs.

After staff researched the item it emerged it was a collectable first pressing of the rock band’s debut album released in 1969, complete with rare turquoise sleeve.

The store had the option of flogging it online but chose to take it to Bonhams auction house in London which gave it a reserve price of £700 to £900.

Deputy Manger Abigail Owen, who anxiously watched as the record went under the hammer last Wednesday alongside a guitar donated by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, said: “We have never taken anything to auction from our shop so we thought it would be an exciting road to go down.

“I was so nervous my heart rate started to go through the roof because I saw lots of the other lots not make their reserve price.”

Abigail added she was delighted with the outcome and expressed gratitude to the donor saying: “If I could speak to them I would say thank you very much you have done a fabulous thing for Oxfam.”