A lock of John Lennon's hair fetched US$48,000 on Wednesday as part of an auction of Beatles memorabilia collected by the band's hairdresser.

The hair -- inside an autographed copy of Lennon's book "A Spaniard in the Works" -- sold to an unnamed telephone bidder.

Gorringes, the auction house, had estimated that the hair would sell for between US$4,000 and US$6,000.

Lennon gave the book and the lock of hair to Betty Glasow, the Fab Four's hairdresser during their heyday. He wrote in the book, "To Betty, Lots of Love and Hair, John Lennon xx."

"It is astonishing that there is still so much interest in the Beatles and the sale goes to prove that John Lennon is still an icon," said Francesca Collin, a spokeswoman for Gorringes.

Fans were able to bid on the hair and other autographed photos and Beatles memorabilia when they went for auction in Worthing, in southern England.

(AP December 14, 2007)