Two locks of Marilyn Monroe's hair to go up for auction

Two locks of Marilyn Monroe's hair, among a trove of memorabilia from the estate of an ardent fan-turned-friend, are going on the auction block in the autumn and could sell for as much as $8,000.

The hair is from the estate of Frieda Hull, who had wide access to Monroe and obtained the locks from the actress' hairdresser.

Julien's Auctions is offering the items on 19-29 November in Los Angeles.

They are among selections from the auction which will be exhibited aboard the Queen Mary II during its week long crossing from New York to Southampton, starting on 9 August.

Julien's said the locks of hair, kept in an ultra-violet protective case, are in a single lot with a pre-sale estimate of $6,000 to $8,000 (£4,560 - £6,080).

Hull asked Monroe's hairdresser for them before Monroe died in 1962 and the blonde bombshell gave her the go-ahead.

Monroe was one of the most iconic stars of Hollywood's golden age of cinema but she died from a drug overdose.

The circumstances surrounding her death at the age of just 36 are still the subject of much speculation.

She was best known for films including 'The Seven Year Itch', 'Some Like It Hot' and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'.