An extremely rare Nintendo DS console is expected to reach £15,000 at auction later this week.

The game console, which features 2000 Swarovski crystals, will be auctioned at Wessex Auction Rooms on Thursday, May 2.

The design was created by the company NYC Peach as one of only five to be released in 2005, to coincide with the launch of the Nintendogs game franchise – the second most popular game released in Nintendo DS history after New Super Mario Bros.

Auctioneer and BBC Bargain Hunt expert Tim Weeks said: “Retro gaming is an era of collecting where we have seen a large increase in demand, and prices growing in-line with that demand, but what makes this item so special is that it is appealing to a much wider audience than just gaming fans.

Swindon Advertiser:

“The purchaser is as likely to be a Hollywood celebrity as it is a high-end Japanese Nintendo collector – and that is the beauty of the auction – it’s a worldwide audience and none of us have any idea where this console will end up going.

“We have had interest from around the world, so I am expecting a fierce bidding war when it goes under the hammer.”