Items sold from the estate of the late Lord Glenconner should be returned to the island of St Lucia, heritage organisations say.

The Scottish aristocrat died in 2010, aged 83, and an auction was held of more than 4000 items in his belongings, including archaeological relics from the island.

Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, lived on the Caribbean island in his final years and gathered a large collection of antiques, art and historical artefacts.

Many were sold at the Bonhams sale in 2011 in London.

Now officials on the island say some of the items are of national significance to the island, "plundered from a Unesco world heritage site" around the Pitons volcanic peaks.

Peter Alternor, of the Pitons Historical Artefacts Society, said: "They are relics of our past and belong to us here in St Lucia.

"We need this auction house to return the treasures and artefacts of the Pitons in St Lucia back to the people.

"We are about to build a new museum to put those items on display."

In a statement, Bonhams said that many of the items were not from St Lucia and "St Lucian customs officials were involved at all stages of the export of the items and cleared all the consignments to be sent to the UK.

"The reception for the sale itself was attended by the High Commissioner for St Lucia.

"The sale was well publicised and attended."

A spokesman for the Glenconner estate said that the sale enabled the estate "to be maintained, and ensured it continues to provide a livelihood for many local people."