James Bond fans will be offered a chance to get their hands on a rare early spy camera next month at an auction in Warwickshire.

The Lancaster ladies’ watch camera, a nickel-plated pocket watch containing a tiny camera, was made in Birmingham and is expected to fetch up to #15,000.

Patented in 1886, the watch was a forerunner for the early spy camera. Only four such models, made by camera maker J Lancaster & Son, are known to exist. Once owned by a cabinet-maker at the firm, it was brought into Bonhams as part of a collection of watches.

Lionel Hughes, Bonhams’ camera specialist, said: "This is a truly exceptional piece. A model sold at auction in 1992 for 47,500 (nearly #24,000) so we have great hopes for our sale in May."

The watch camera will be sold at Bonhams in Knowle on May 9.