Dental implants were not yet available in his day, but Winston Churchill’s false teeth have just been sold for over £15,000.

The cosmetic dentistry equipment, which had a guide price of £5,000, was one of the lots auctioned by Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, which listed it as a “partial upper denture, designed for Sir Winston Churchill”.

Dentist Wilfred Fish made the plate loose-fitting so that the prime minister could keep his distinctive lisp, which was well-known from his wartime radio broadcasts.

Churchill, who had lost teeth at an early age due to gum problems, was so pleased with the dental work that he nominated Fish for a knighthood.

The former leader had several sets made by the same dental technician, Derek Cudlipp, one of which is believed to have been buried with him when he died in 1965.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England describes the denture as “a crucial physical and psychological prop” for Churchill, whose public speaking ability was key to his premiership.