THE organisers of a charity book sale in York are auctioning an antique copy of one of the works of Dante in an effort to boost sales.

The annual book sale, which has been running for the past two weeks at The Central Methodist Church in St Saviourgate, is seeing lower than usual takings so the copy of Dante’s The Vision Of Hell, is being offered to the highest bidder by the time the sale finishes tomorrow afternoon.

Stephen Hatcher, who organises the event to raise money for the Eglesea Brook Chapel and Museum in Cheshire, said he estimated takings were down 25 per cent on previous years.

He said: “The Vision Of Hell puts modern science fiction in the shadows.”

The sale continues today and tomorrow from 10am to 5pm and the Dante book, which has a starting price of £15, will be available for inspection there.