A key that could have saved the Titanic has sold at auction for £90,000.

It opened a locker containing the crows nest’s binoculars and was held by David Blair, 37, of Broughty Ferry, near Dundee.

He was due to be the second officer on the ship’s doomed maiden voyage to New York but was taken off the crew roster at the last minute.

David forgot to hand the key in, meaning none of the lookouts could use his binoculars.

A look out who survived the disaster told the official inquiry they may have seen the iceberg sooner if they’d had them.

The winning bidder was a European Titanic enthusiast who plans to exhibit it.

Andrew Aldridge, of auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Sons in Devizes, Wiltshire, said: “There was a real buzz in the room.

“We were auctioning a number of Titanic items but this really was our prize item - we are very pleased.”

Posted: 09|24|07 at 9:11 am. Filed under: UK News.