Hair plaits that once belonged to country icon Willie Nelson are set to go under the hammer as part of a memorabilia auction in New York.

The clumps of hair were cut off by Nelson in 1983 and given to fellow country star Waylon Jennings, who died in 2002, as a show of solidarity to support Jennings' attempt at sobriety.

They are listed among 500 items that once belonged to Jennings, including Buddy Holly's motorcycle, which he was given after the Peggy Sue hitmaker's death in 1959, Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves and a robe and a letter John Lennon sent to the singer.

The items are being sold at Guernsey's auction house at the instruction of Jennings' wife of more than 30 years, singer Jessi Colter.