The bullet will be sold at auction on 29 February, with auctioneers unsure as to what kind of value such a “unique” lot will attract.

Fred Wyrley-Birch, director at Anderson & Garland, said: “It’s one of those slightly macabre lots you get now and again that draws everyone’s attention.

“There is a Beatles fanbase that is fanatical and a market for just about anything Beatles.

“But very seldomly do you get something so unusual and unique, it’s difficult to know what it’s worth and whether there’s a market for it or not.

“It’s a really interesting piece of Beatles memorabilia that probably can’t be replicated.”

He said the auction house had carried out intensive investigations to satisfy themselves that the artefact was genuine.