Complete R2-D2 salvaged from Star Wars films sells for £2.1 million

A complete R2-D2 made from pieces salvaged from the Star Wars films has been sold for more than £2 million.

The 43-inch-tall robot was created by a British enthusiast over seven years, using only genuine parts from at least four films.

It was eventually sold for 2.76 million dollars (£2.13 million) at Los Angeles auction house Profiles in History, surpassing even the highest estimate of two million dollars.

Brian Chanes, the auction house's head of acquisitions, said ahead of Wednesday's sale: “We're very excited to have it because really this is the only one to reach the auction block in the world.

"It's a high price but at the same time you couldn't expect to find a better piece, an artefact from the Star Wars trilogy.”

The dome was debuted by actor Kenny Baker in the first film, A New Hope, as were the metal details from the body, according to the auctioneer.

The legs were from The Empire Strikes Back while the body is from The Phantom Menace and its opening hatch is from Attack Of The Clones, he added.

One of Luke Skywalker's lightsabers was also sold for 450,000 dollars (£348,000).