Equipment from a collapsed north-east construction firm could end up in earthquake-ravaged Japan after an auction in Aberdeenshire yesterday.

Buyers from as far afield as the United Arab Emirates were also in attendance as millions of pounds worth of plant and vehicles went under the hammer at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

Organisers said the auction had attracted interest from parties looking to pick up equipment for use in the salvage operation following the devastating Japanese tsunami, which has claimed thousands of lives.

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Hundreds of people flocked to the site as more than 600 lots from the three companies that formed the main division of the Les Taylor Group went up for sale.

The vast array of machinery, including wheeled excavators, heavy trucks, four-wheel drive vehicles, cars and quarry equipment was lined up for viewing in the grounds of the venue.

The crowd at Thainstone was a broad mix of local and visiting businessmen, farmers, traders and more than a few curious locals.

While some vehicles were fetching six-figures sums, one of the lowest prices was for four temporary toilets, which were sold for around £60 each.

Overall, the ANM spokes-man said that the sale seemed to have gone “very well”.

“Prices have been well above expectations,” he said.

The equipment on sale was previously owned by Mintlaw-based Les Taylor Contractors, sister company J.G. Fowlie and Grampian Building Contractors, an Ellon skip-hire and quarry business which the late Mr Taylor acquired for £11.6million three years ago. Receivers Ernst and Young laid off 178 members of staff after being called in to work with the businesses in January.

A further 20 jobs were lost at the Ellon firm days later.

The sale is one of the biggest handled by Thainstone Specialist Auctions, a subsidiary of ANM Group. As well as the live auction, buyers were also able to view and bid on the goods online until Monday night.

The online version of the auction attracted bids from as far away as South America.

The sale was expected to generate close to £4million, but a spokesman for Ernst and Young said last night it was too early to provide exact figures on what was sold.

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