Estate agents who teamed up with auction house Clive Emson were paid £700,000 in commission last year.

Clive Emson, which last year raised £120m in sales, runs eight auctions each year across four locations from Kent to Cornwall.

Founded 25 years ago by Clive Emson, one of the auction world’s most colourful personalities and a generous benefactor, the firm has so far this year raised £15m from four sales, with a success rate of just over 80%.

James Emson, managing director, said: “We are seeing guide prices repeatedly broken, as public confidence grows in the economy.

“For example, our auction for the West Country recorded the best individual sales figures since 2007, with all but one of the 20 lots snapped up.”

He added: “We have achieved solid figures to date, thanks in part to the superb co-operation on viewings by estate agents across the region.

“The £700,000 commission, on the back of £120m worth of sales in 2013, is in recognition of these excellent working relationships.

“However, there can never be room for complacency. It is the sellers and buyers who are in the driving seat and they are always at the forefront of our minds in everything we do.”

Pictured is auctioneer Ben Snelling