A RARE set of postcards showing one of the worst fires ever to hit Harwich is going under the hammer.

The collection of eight original postcards dating back more than a century is being auctioned off after being rediscovered.

The devastating inferno broke out on the old Continental Pier on June 18, 1910, and raged for almost 24 hours.

Frefighters bravely battled to save the pier but were woefully ill-equipped.

Sheds used for storing malt and timber were burnt to the ground.

The postcards show the smouldering devastation in the aftermath of the blaze, which could be seen for miles around.

Damage was estimated at £15,000 - more than £1.1million today.

The fire started just before 10pm in a storage shed and sacks of overheating grain were later blamed.

Buildings the length of the 490ft timber pier - owned by the Great Eastern Railway Company - were destroyed.

The pier was built in 1866 to cope with ships which were too large to dock at the nearby Ha'penny Pier.

Railway tracks used to carry cargo can be seen on the surviving postcards, which are already attracting interest ahead of the auction.

Bidding will start around the £60 mark, but auction manager James Sadler said: “The way old postcards have been selling lately, the eventual buying price could well be double or treble the guide price.

“At our last few auctions, figures paid for postcards have been through the roof. I’m sure it will be the same this time and the Harwich Pier blaze items have received many early inquiries.”

The auction takes place at Lockdales, near Ipswich, on November 17 from 9.30am.

There are 250 postcard lots.

Earlier this year a collection of 300 postcards went for almost £28,000 at the Martlesham auctioneers.