The sketches created in 1970 in preparation for filming the cartoon should have been exhibited at the auction today in the English county of Gloucestershire.

They were put up for sale by the daughter of animator Eric Wylam, who died in 1997.

But on the eve of the auction the lawyers have submitted a protest, claiming that they were unaware that Paul McCartney gave these drawings to Wylam.

Eric’s daughter Maggie Thornton, who lives in Tewksbury, stated that these pictures have been the property of her family for nearly 40 years.

“I always believed they belonged to my father”, – she told.

The officer of the Auction Company Dominic Winter – Chris Albury – said that he had no choice but to remove the pictures from the auction.

“Lawyers said that these works are still owned by Paul McCartney, as the film was shot at the money his company MPL Communications”, – said Albury.

“But Maggie thinks differently on the grounds that her father had told her,” – he added. According to Chris Albury, his company has made significant efforts to attract the attention of Sir Paul McCartney to the possible sale of the drawings.

“Since March, we have been sending emails and scans of all the pictures, explaining their origins and asking whether there are any obstacles or objections to the sale, but received no reply,” – said the auctioneer.

Sketches, which were made for the non-released film “The Bruce McMouse Show” had the announced price of 25 thousand pounds.

“We must return them to its rightful owner, whoever this was – Maggie, or Sir Paul McCartney, or his company,” – said Chris Albury.