A lonely heart looking for love on eBay has had his dreams cruelly crushed by the internet giant.

Michael Elliott from Hove put himself on eBay in a bid to find love and somebody to share his life with.

The 47-year-old had attracted ten bids peaking at £5.50 when eBay pulled the advert just 20 minutes before the auction closed.

In his item description, Mr Elliott told potential bidders that he had been single for four years and had described himself as “a loving and giving man”.

Mr Elliott, who started the bidding at a lowly 99p, also informed eBay users that he came with his own two bedroom flat, a car and “no baggage”. He also promised to refund the money to the winning bidder of the item he described as “single man 47, looking for a woman to spend the rest of my life with”.

He is not the first Brighton and Hove resident to give web bargain hunters an unusual offer.

Last month, Brighton-based poet Chris Parkinson offered users of website Gumtree the chance to live for free in a Queen’s Park flat if they dressed up as a walrus for two hours a day.

The unusual offer is now set to be transformed into a film by cult US director Kevin Smith with filming set to start in Los Angeles next month.

Describing himself on eBay, Mr Elliott wrote: “A book with obvious wear. May have some damage to the book cover but the book is still completely intact.The binding may be slightly damaged around the edges but it is still completely intact.”

Mr Elliott added: “I have been single for four years and have tried dating sites. I want to meet a woman who I can love each day.”

An eBay spokesman said: “eBay does not allow the sale of personal relationships.”

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