IF YOU have ever fancied your own vending machine or riding around on a council-owned lawnmower, tomorrow could be your big chance.

More than 150 items of council paraphernalia ranging from tipper trucks to vending machines will be up for grabs at the Oxford City Council vehicle and equipment auction.

Other items fit to furnish any weekend shopping list include snow ploughs, lamp posts, mobile elevating work platforms and a metal cabinet – with a broken lock.

Twice as many lots as last year will be auctioned off, with cars, vans, and tippers, as well as gardening equipment, trailers, generators, power tools and workshop equipment making up the bulk of the catalogue.

Fleet technical officer Owain Pearce is in charge of this year’s auction said there were plenty of gardening tools on offer, but how much they could fetch for council coffers depended entirely on the day.

He said: “There’s some quirky items in there. There’s a lot of gardening equipment this year – strimmers, blowers, that kind of thing as well as vehicles.

“It’s not just open to commercial bidders. We are hoping householders will come down if they fancy a bit of gardening equipment.

“The prices for each item vary – it’s all about what people on the day want to pay.”

Mr Pearce said a vending machine – a Witten Vasco 47 model – was one of the quirkier items.

He said: “It’s unusual. It’s an old obsolete unit – it’s all equipment that is no longer used due to new technology or newer models.”

From 9am onwards tomorrow the council’s Marsh Road depot in Cowley will be transformed into a giant auction room – with items going to the highest bidders.

The first auction was held in 1996 and tomorrow's outdoor auction is being hosted by Milton Keynes Motor Stadium Auctions.

In 2012 the council’s auction of 50 lots netted more than £50,000 for the authority.

Auctioneer Mick Blacow is travelling from Milton Keynes to conduct proceedings.

He said: “These auctions attract all sorts of people, businesses, commercial dealers and private individuals.

“We are expecting between 200 and 300 people to attend.”

Council press officer Chofamba Sithole: “We sell off items that we no longer require.

“This could be for reasons such as that technology has advanced or there are variations to specifications that no longer require this equipmen.”

The auction will start at 11am, but gates open at 9am for viewing and registration.