WORCESTERSHIRE already enjoys enviably close ties with the English Civil War and now a document signed by King Charles I is to go on sale at auction.

The 350-year-old document, signed by the king who was later executed is to be auctioned at Fieldings Auctioneers of Stourbridge on Saturday, July 4.

The document, dated September 3, 1642 is from the king and appoints Thomas Lyttleton as "Colonel of all the Kings forces of Horse and foot in the County of Worcester".

Thomas Lyttleton was born in 1593 and inherited estates in Frankly, Halesowen, Upper Arley and Hagley.

He became a Member of Parliament for Worcester in 1620 and was a strong Royalist.

He was taken prisoner by Tinker Fox, a Parliamentarian from Birmingham after he raided the Royal Garrison at Bewdley in 1644.

The document has come from a local deceased estate and carries an estimate of £2,000 to £3,000.

Director Nicholas Davies said items like this did not come up often. He said: "It's really unusual. This is a rare opportunity for a collector. We have already had a couple of expressions of interest."

The document, made of vellum, is in good condition despite its age. There will be 700 lots at the auction, including some for Civil War coins, some minted in Royalist strongholds. The 'mantiques' auction covers a range of time periods and involves the sale of items which may be of interest to men in particular.

Worcester was the site of the last battle of the English Civil War in 1651 when Charles I's son fled the city. He was later crowned Charles II, bringing about the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Robin Walker, Worcester's MP has made calls for the city to make more of its history as 'a civil war city'.