LONDON, Thursday 22 July 2010 (AFP) - The cremated remains of a cat that appeared in the opening credits of Britain's longest-running television soap have sold for over 800 pounds (1,200 dollars, 1,000 euros), an auction house said Thursday.

For over a decade, viewers tuning in to "Coronation Street" were greeted with a clip of Frisky the cat crouching on a pigeon house.

The tabby beat 5,000 other cats to get the part in 1990, and he featured in more than 1,000 episodes of the show before he died ten years ago.

His ashes, sealed in a wooden box with a brass plaque, were put up for auction by the cat's owner and sold for more than four times the initial estimate.

After some frenzied bidding, the item went under the hammer for 700 pounds, and with buyer's premium the total came to 844 pounds, Dominic Winter Auctioneers said.

Frisky was a favourite with viewers and made numerous public appearances to raise money for charity, and the auction sparked significant interest.

"He seems to be really well known," Chris Albury of Dominic Winter told AFP.

The winning bidder, who was not present at the auction, also gets a collection of nine postcards showing Frisky being cuddled by Coronation Street actors and a certificate of authenticity.

"It would make a nice cabinet display if you're a Coronation Street fan," said Albury.