The historic Wedgwood Collection of pottery, art and writing has been sold by administrators.

Begbies Traynor completed the deal yesterday with the Art Fund charity, following a successful public fundraising campaign aimed at keeping the works together.

The sale was completed in line with an agreement reached with creditors of the Wedgwood Museum Trust which entered administration in 2009.

The collection has 80,000 pieces, some of which date back 250 years, and administrators Bob Young and Steve Currie said they were keen to prevent the works, valued at £15.75 million, from being broken up and sold at auction.

The duo led the negotiations involving creditors, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund, reaching a deal to save the collection earlier this year.

It was agreed that the Art Fund would purchase the collection and then gift it to the V&A Museum which will in turn assume responsibility for the collection in perpetuity.

It is expected that the V&A will loan the precious works to WWRD which has owned the Wedgwood brand since 2009 and which continues to manufacture on the Wedgwood Estate in north Staffordshire where the collection will remain.

Mr Young said: "It was incredibly satisfying to finally sign the sale contract transferring ownership of the Wedgwood Collection to the Art Fund, which has done a tremendous job of rallying people in Staffordshire and across the country in support of this very important piece of British heritage.

"This fantastic outcome wouldn't have been possible without the spirit of goodwill and determination shown during the often complex negotiations.

"The transfer of ownership guarantees that people from Staffordshire and beyond will be able to continue to enjoy the Wedgwood Collection under one roof in its spiritual home in the Midlands."

The Art Fund raised the required £15.75 million through a combination of support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a public fundraising appeal.

The sale contract was conducted by professional services firm Knights, also based in Staffordshire.