A piano Paul McCartney used to compose the Beatles' standard Yesterday sold for $240,000 on Friday.

The 1926 art deco Eavestaff pianette exceeded its $202,000 estimate at the Fame Bureau's Covent Garden sale.

The tune came to McCartney in a dream in 1964 but the former Beatle was convinced he had stolen it.

McCartney was staying with the parents of his girlfriend Jane Asher in London at the time. Upon waking he immediately found the chords on the upright piano in his attic room.

Yesterday is the world's most covered song

McCartney visited singer Alma Cogan for a second opinion on the authenticity of the number, playing her the song on her family's piano. It was this piano that was bought by an anonymous overseas investor at the auction. It had been consigned by Cogan's sister Sandra.

During the tune's early stages its opening line ran: "Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs". Yesterday was released on the Help! album in 1965.

The piano is thought to have also been played by John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Sammy Davis Jr and Lionel Bart. Michael Caine and Sean Connery are also said to have had a bash.