WHEN Whitwell Post Office staff had to take down a row of shelves to recover an item that had fallen down, it seemed like an inconvenience. But behind the boards, they found some packs of 40-year-old cereal, which have sold for nearly �160 per box online.

Owner Norma Fears found the boxes of Nabisco Malted Shreddies behind the shelf boards, estimated to be from the 1970s.

Originally, she gave them to a customer to feed to her chickens, but when they turned their beaks up, a customer suggested to try selling them on eBay.

“I gave them originally to a customer who has chickens, but when she tried to feed them, they said ‘no thank you very much’, so she brought them back,” said Norma.

“We were just chatting in the shop, when a customer who often uses eBay and posts his items from the store, said to give it a go on there.

“When we saw the first bid at �36, we thought ‘that’s quite good’ but then they sold for �158.98. I couldn’t believe they went for that.”

Norma and customer Dave King, who put the box online, plan to split the money made from the sales between Keech Hospice Care and Mencap. They still have another three boxes to be sold.

The boxes are estimated to be from the 1970s, as there are AristoCats stickers inside and no expiry dates on the packaging. The Disney classic came out in 1970, and sell by dates were introduced in 1980.

“We’re not sure why they have gone for so much, but we think it’s one of three things; either the stickers, the packaging or that they aren’t opened,” added Norma.

“It’s a weird little story that has definitely amused the shop.”