A 1962 Beatles acetate demo record has sold for £77,500 ($109,778) at Omega Auctions in Liverpool.

It had originally been estimated at £20,000 ($28,330), a figure it soared past by 287.5%.

Brian Epstein cut the acetate at a HMV in London

The result is not surprising given the centrality of the disc to the Beatles story.

It features two original songs - Till There Was You and Hey Little Girl.

The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, copied it directly from the master tape of the band's demo in 1962 and gave it to producer George Martin at EMI.

Four months later, the record company signed the band.

Later on Martin gave the disc back to Epstein, who passed it on to Les Maguire of Merseyside band Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Maguire, now in his 70s, explained: "It's no good to me so I've given it to my granddaughter, who is hoping to buy a house after passing her accountancy exams."

Ian Shirley, editor of the Rare Record Price Guide, explained in the run-up to the sale: "This is one of those Holy Grail items like the original Quarrymen acetate that the band recorded themselves.

"This acetate is a unique item that, in many respects, helped Brian Epstein to start the ball rolling to musical world domination."

An early letter from John Lennon will sell at Tracks Auctions on April 3.

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