GBP 200 for watch that clocked historic run

A STOPWATCH used to time Roger Bannister's historic four-minute mile in May 1954 is expected to fetch GBP 200 when it is sold in London later this month, .

Bannister ran into athletics history as the first man to run the distance in less than four minutes. His time of 3min 59.4sec was caught by a famous news picture which went round the world when he broke the tape at the Iffley Road track in Oxford.

The watch belongs to Norman Simons, of Ealing, a timekeeper at track and field events for 35 years. He said today: "I have some regrets about letting it go after all this time but life moves on. "This stopwatch has been lying about in my bureau for 25 years ever since we went digital." The Nero 1/10 split second watch with movement number 4355 will now be sold at Bonhams in Knightsbridge on 22 April.

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