THE writing desk on which Agatha Christie wrote some of her greatest work is to be auctioned.

Bidders from around the world are expected take an interest in the desk which took pride of place at the Torquay author's London home.

It will form part of a lot of Christie belongings going under the hammer at an auction in Cambridge next week.

The items, including a black lacquer breakfast table, chairs, armchairs, lacquer pictures and an address book are estimated to fetch between £100 and £4,000.

They were collected by Christie when she lived at 22 Cresswell Place, Kensington, London, with her second husband Sir Max Mallowan.

Lisa Freeman-Bassett, of auctioneers Cheffins, said: "She lived at the house a long time and she certainly would have used the desk to write some of her novels on, including the Poirot ones."

The belongings have been in the possession of Mallowan's family through his second wife since Christie died in 1976.

Although she was born in Torquay and spent many summers at Greenway House, Christie also owned a number of homes in London.

The couple were married in 1930 and Christie's travels with Mallowan, an archeologist, over the next 30 years influenced many of her novels such as Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.

In a career that spanned more than half a century, the Queen of Crime wrote around 80 novels and short story collections.

The sale is a timely reminder of Christie's enduring popularity and comes as the National Trust prepares to open Greenway House to the public for the first time this year.

Other lots on sale include a William IV library table, Christie's desk blotter and address book, and a copy of The Golden Fleece by Robert Graves, signed 'Agatha and Max, love from Robert, 1944.'

Ms Freeman-Bassett said: "This chance to own objects from the life of Agatha Christie is an opportunity that will excite and inspire many and is indeed attracting much attention."