A collection of Winston Churchill memorabilia owned by his chauffeur has been discovered in a JIGSAW box after it was nearly thrown in a skip.

The items were collected by Reginald Parker, personal chauffeur to the British Prime Minister during World War Two.

They were found by a 60-year-old clerk who was clearing his cupboards and drawers while they were on furlough.

The collection includes Post Office telegraphs and instructions from 10 Downing Street and The Metropolitan Police stating where and when the Prime Minister must be picked up.

One note says: "The Prime Minister will arrive tomorrow by air at Hendon Aerodrome. Please have police car in readiness."

The archive also includes a grainy black and white images of Mr Parker including one at the wheel of the Prime Minister's limousine outside 10 Downing Street.

The collection, which was almost dumped in a skip, is now being auctioned and is set to fetch between £250-£350.

The owner of the archive, who did not wish to be named, said: "I'm on furlough and I've been sorting out cupboards and wardrobes.

"I saw a jigsaw box in my study and just thought it was one of my many jigsaws.

"But, when I opened the lid, I found the archive. I'd forgotten all about it.

"I saved it from going to the tip during a house clearance in the late 1990s.

"It used to belong to my mother-in-law's partner whose surname was Parker. When he died, I helped to clear his bungalow in Hilton, Derbyshire."

"There was quite a bit of stuff which needed to be sold, scrapped or given to charity.

"I stumbled across the paperwork and photos when I opened an old suitcase in the loft.

"Nobody wanted it and it was going to be chucked away. But I'm fascinated by history and decided to take it home.

"When I rediscovered it, I decided it was time to find out if it was important.

"I've always wondered if there is some key information in there, a piece of history that's missing.

"I've visited the Churchill War Rooms in London. Perhaps it should be there. It would be lovely if it went to a museum."

Mr Parker lived in Buckinghamshire and retired at the age of 64 in 1949 after serving

five British prime ministers during a 24-year career which began in 1925.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "Jigsaws have proved phenomenally popular during lockdown and it seems apt that an archive relating to

British leaders who served during previous turbulent times in history has been found in a jigsaw box.

"The fascinating archive provides an insight into the daily lives of some of the most famous names in British political history and highlights the part played by a devoted chauffeur.

"The timings indicate that Parker transported Churchill around London during the Second World War.

"No doubt, they got to know each other well. It's telling that one of the items in Reginald's long-lost archive is a photo of Churchill with the iconic leader's signature attached to it.

"We believe the gentleman whose loft it was found in some 20 years ago was Reginald Parker's relative, possibly his son.

"Churchill memorabilia does well at auction and it would be wonderful to see this unusual piece of British political history preserved for posterity, perhaps in a war museum."

The Churchill chauffeur archive will go under the hammer between July 16-20.