A TUTU worn by one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the 20th century is to go under the hammer at a Stourbridge auction this weekend.

Fieldings Auctioneers is selling the stage outfit worn by the late great Dame Alicia Markova when she danced as Odette from Swan Lake with the Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden in 1948.

The cream satin embellished tutu, which has not been seen since 1959, is among a collection of personal items and effects from Dame Markova's estate, including some of her clothing, travelling trunks, awards and books, which will go on sale this Saturday (April 2) at Fieldings' latest fine art, antique and collectables sale.

Markova was the first British born ballerina to become an international star and auctioneer Alison Snowdon said: "She is one of only a tiny elite acknowledged as ‘prima ballerina assoluta’ and was widely considered to be one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the 20th century."

At just 14 Markova danced with the Diaghilev Ballet - and later with the Ballet Rambert and the Vic-Wells Ballet; she also toured with her own company in Britain.

Remembered best for her role as Giselle which made her a star in America - she co-founded and danced with the English National Ballet (previously known as the Festival Ballet).

She retired from professional dancing in 1963 at the age of 52 but continued to play an active role in the world of ballet and theatre - through teaching, directing and choreographing.

The legendary dancer, who never married, died after suffering a stroke in 2004 at the age of 94.

Given Markova's star profile - there is likely to be a great deal of interest in the tutu, which bears the dancer's name in handwritten ink on the waist band.

It is believed to have been given to the seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, in 1959 while she was working in the wardrobe department at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and it is going under the hammer at Fieldings' Mill Race Lane auction house with a guide price of £400 to £600.

Miss Snowdon at Fieldings said: "I’m hoping it will prove popular but it is a difficult thing to value as few stage worn tutus have come onto the market.

"It would be lovely to see it go on public display or to a museum."

The items can be viewed between 10am and 4pm on Thursday March 31, 10am and 8pm on Friday April 1, and up until the sale starts at 10am on Saturday April 2.