Lyrics to A Day In The Life handwritten by John Lennon have failed to sell at auction.

Sealed bids to Bonhams in New York failed to meet the reserve price for the 39-year-old sheet.

A Bonhams spokesman said: "It's a reality in our business but we're certainly disappointed. We wish we were jumping on the rooftops yelling about the sales prices."

The work was sold for £56,600 in 1992 but had been expected to sell for more than £1 million.