More than 2,000 lots are being auctioned off online on Wednesday and Thursday

Get the latest news from Darlington direct to your inbox with our free email newsletter

Machinery worth tens of thousands of pounds, artwork and abandoned fridges and laptops at the Cleveland Bridge site are being auctioned off over the next two days.

An auction with 2,435 items up for sale is taking place today and tomorrow as the historic engineering firm is dismantled following its collapse.

As equipment used until just weeks ago is auctioned off, it makes for sombre viewing to watch the iconic Darlington -based bridgebuilder disappear.

Go here for more Darlington news and updates from Darlington Live

Pictures of artwork, empty offices and towering machinery give a final glimpse of what it was like to walk the Yarm Road site.

Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall, which is running the auction online from its Leeds office, outlines the items for sale as "heavy fabrication and metalworking machinery and equipment, including welding, shotblast, machine tools, containers, lifting equipment and vehicles."

Cleveland Bridge, known for its work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge, as well as London’s Shard and Wembley Stadium, dates back to 1877 and was employing more than 300 staff before the administration.

But despite efforts of administrators and politicians, the firm collapsed - toppled by debts of more than £21m and the administrators report revealing details of how its Saudi Arabian owners, the Al Rushaid Group (ARPIC), declined to support the business through a funding crisis.

In a crushing blow, a statement Martyn Pullin, partner at FRP and joint administrator, said in September: “We have worked tirelessly in the hope of finding a buyer who would continue to operate Cleveland Bridge as a going concern, running a thorough and extensive sales process.

"However, with no current viable offers remaining to take the business on, we must now prepare for a property and asset sale."

Now machinery, which was in use until a matter of weeks ago, is being auctioned off for thousands of pounds.

A Ficep Gemini HD36 gantry plate processing centre, automatic CNC drilling, milling and thermal cutting system sold for in excess of £80,000 while the closing bid on a Corimpex BWM-TC2000-1000 E65 CNC beam welding machine topped £55,000.

In addition to machinery, equipment, steel, vehicles down to wiring, chains, drills and hard hats, the auction includes ovens, microwaves, fridges with starting bids of less than £10.

Office supplies like cabinets, desks and laptops are also being auctioned off for low prices.

Artwork made be apprentices, including a steel piece nicknamed 'The Shaggin Dogs' (current bid £25), and the Cleveland Bridge logo sculpture (current bid £400) which used to welcome workers and visitors to the site are on offer.

For the latest Darlington news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter