AN ORIGINAL illustration of the cover art for a PD James novel has sold at auction for £1,125 today in Kidlington.

The work, designed for James’ novel The Black Tower, was only expected to fetch £700 when it went under the hammer at Bonhams in Banbury Road at 11am.

Phyllis Dorothy James was born in Oxford on August 3, 1920, and spent much of her life in the city. She died at her home here in November aged 94.