A watering can used by Sussex volunteers trying to rescue a whale trapped in the Thames has received internet auction bids of more than £100,000.

A staggering £125,300 was offered last night for the red plastic can, which is being auctioned on eBay in aid of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, based in Uckfield.

However, organisers fear pranksters have hijacked the bidding, more reasonably estimated at £15,000.

The can, which was used by medics in the vain attempt to save a northern bottle-nosed whale, was seen by TV audiences around the world pouring water on the rare mammal's skin to prevent dehydration.

Faye Archell, owner of the watering can, worth less than £5, said: "I was flicking through the papers and noticed it appeared on several pages.

"My boyfriend pointed out it was the kind of thing people would want on eBay but I only thought it would make £50.

"I never expected this in my wildest dreams.

"I'm fairly sure the recent bids have been bogus.

"Still the bidding looks fairly genuine up to £15,000 and that would be fantastic."

Yesterday, a post-mortem on the whale showed it died from dehydration, muscle damage and kidney failure.

Experts said it may have been heading west to the Atlantic, where it could feed on deep sea squid, but made a wrong turn and ended up near Chelsea Bridge in the heart of London.

Further tests will be carried out during the next few weeks to determine whether it was suffering an infection or pollution from heavy metals.

Rescuers said they were pleased their decision to move the whale, stranded on a mud bank strewn with broken glass on Saturday, had been vindicated by the report.

Miss Archell, 26, said: "To hear we were doing the right thing is good news."

The whale was seen swimming past the Houses of Parliament on Friday.

When it died later on a barge, rescuers said: "It felt like a member of the family had gone."

Miss Archell, who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, but has been working with the rescue operators for six years, said: "The watering can was the only one we had on site.

"Everyone else had brought pontoons and all kinds of technical equipment but my little can was the only one."