A STATUE in his honour takes pride of place in the town centre and his work has touched the funny bone of the nation for generations.

And today, lovers of cartoonist Carl Giles, will be able to get their hands on some of his original works during an auction at Lockdales, in Martlesham.

A full set of Giles annuals will be among the exhibits at the firm’s fine art sale on February 27 and 28.

James Sadler, of Lockdales, said: “The public are so enthusiastic about Giles.”

“We have many of his original cartoons.

“This is original art work that was done mainly for friends and charities.”

There will be a special Giles section during the auction and it comes off the back of a bumper sale of the cartoonist’s works at Lockdales in November – which saw a flood of Giles items come in from Britain and across the world.

Mr Sadler added: “Giles touched the national humour for so long, and over a very long period he was such a great character in Ipswich and Suffolk.”

Giles, who was born in north London, lived in Tuddenham and had an office in Ipswich – he died in 1995 aged 84.

Mr Sadler added he feels a museum dedicated to Giles in Ipswich could happen one day and suggested it could work in an area in Christchurch Mansion.