THIS weekend a Newport arts house will be taken over by the King of rock and roll, as Elvis Presley collectors sell hundreds of items of the legend’s memorabilia.

Andy Jones has been collecting since he was 14-years-old. A royal mail worker by day, Mr Jones is now one of the biggest Elvis collectors in the UK.

“He’s such a saleable person. It’s an amazing phenomenon.

“But I buy to keep. I’m an out and out collector.”

Andy has items of clothing, vinyl, film and concert posters among his vast personal collection.

But along with his business partner, Andrew Hearn of Essential Elvis UK, Andy acquires other people’s collections too.

After they pick out the pieces for themselves, they sell at events such as the one happening at Barnabas Arts House this Saturday.

“This is the first one we’ve done in Wales,” Andy explained.

Among the items on sale will be two of the singer’s scarves, a racket and business cards from the tennis club he set up and more than 100 framed posters in various sizes.

One of these is the original 1958 billboard poster for Jailhouse Rock which stretches at least eight feet. The posters are expected to sell from £160 upwards. “You need the space for these posters. You want them to be seen,” said Andy.

It’s not just the memorabilia Andy is interested in, but the history of the man himself. He has visited Memphis six times, dined with Elvis’ ex-wife Priscilla and other ex-girlfriends and in September, hosted Elvis’s first cousin Wayne Mann at his home before bringing him to Barnabas too.

“I would never have imagined I’d be sat in my living room going through an Elvis book with Elvis’s first cousin,” Andy said.

“Growing up, I read the books and visualised these people, but then to be sat there with this person, able to ask them anything is amazing.”

This is a long-term love affair showing no sign of dwindling. Besides, there’s still one item the collector is after.

“You are always looking for that next thing or person. I’d love to own a jumpsuit.”

The sale is this Saturday from 11am – 4pm at Barnabas Arts House, New Ruperra Street, Newport.