A piano used by John Lennon for composing some of most notable songs for The Beatles fetched a record $3.2 million at a Christie’s auction in New York.

The piano, which was expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000, sold for almost $3.3 million (£2.5 million), becoming the most expensive object from The Beatles to be sold.

Lennon used the Broadwood upright piano to compose hits songs such as “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” “A Day In The Life,” and “Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!,” which featured on The Beatles’ eighth studio album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The piano was among the items sold as part of The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame, which also included a drum kit by fellow Beatle Ringo Starr and other music, film and sports memorabilia.

Sir Ringo’s first Ludwig drum kit sold for nearly $2.4 million (£1.8 million) at the auction.