From a helmet signed by seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher to Paul McCartney's guitar, a range of items will go under the hammer this week at British auction house Ewbank's sporting and entertainment memorabilia sales.

On Wednesday (November 20), some 200 lots will go under the hammer at the Surrey auction house's sporting memorabilia sale. Among these are a 2004 racing season replica helmet signed by Schumacher, with an estimate of 500 – 800 pounds and a signed, limited edition book about late Brazilian soccer star Pele, which has an estimate of 1,000 – 2,000 pounds.

Other soccer items for sale include a 1956 menu signed by Manchester United players, some of whom died in the 1958 Munich air crash.

"There's a big demand for sporting memorabilia, particularly anything football related," Ewbank's partner and auctioneer Andrew Ewbank told Reuters. "But it goes much deeper than that. It's a real growth area for collectors… and for those people selling things as well."

Ewbank's entertainment memorabilia auction will follow on Thursday (November 21) with more than 300 lots being offered. Among the highlights is a Hofner violin bass signed by veteran musician Paul McCartney (estimate 1,800 – 2,200 pounds) and a signed limited edition print of the cover for Oasis' 2006 "Stop The Clocks" compilation album, designed by British artist Peter Blake.

"Anything Oasis this right now is really, really hot," Ewbank said, referring to the band's sold-out reunion concerts, kicking off in June.

(Production: Will Russell, Marie-Louise Gumuchian)