Headcrusher and Iron Maiden torture instruments go under the hammer

A headcrusher, an Iron Maiden and a highwayman's coffin are among a series of torture implements recovered from the cellar of a German museum which are to be auctioned later this month.

The grim items - some of which are thought to date from medieval times - were discovered by auctioneer John Nicholson in the Kriminal Museum of Rudesheim/Rhein near Berlin, which was selling the collection after the owner died.

"There were these big wooden doors with great big metal locks and metal bolts," he said.

"They opened to reveal a stone staircase leading to the basement.