VOLUNTEERS at a north Cotswold charity shop were “shaken and stirred” when they came across a valuable first edition James Bond novel.

The eagle-eyed volunteers at the Helen & Douglas House charity shop in Chipping Norton spotted the second impression of the first edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale among the donations.

They brought it to the attention of the shop manager Angela Gaydon, who sought expert help before selling the book to Peter Kellow of Kellow Antiquarian Books in Chippy for £1,800.

It was the largest ever over the counter sale in any of the Helen & Douglas House’s 30 charity shops in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties.

Shop manager Angela said previous record sales in the Chipping Norton shop had included a Tudor-style dolls’ house, which sold for £395 and an Italian leather cape, which sold for £200.

She said: “Let’s just say that we were very much shaken and stirred when we realised what a special donation this was. The chips were certainly not down today in Chipping Norton – on the contrary, we are absolutely delighted to have sold the book for a tidy sum, coupled with the fact the donor gift-aided this copy, which will bring the total to £2,300.”

The valuable book was first published in 1953 and is the first of the James Bond novels written by Fleming. The infamous series of books about the British spy have sold millions across the world and Mr Kellow is confident of selling the book on to a private collector.

Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family.