THE Southampton man who auctioned a plastic carrier bag on the Internet for £4.39 has sparked an online carrier bag-buying frenzy.

There are now 23 carrier bags for sale on auction website eBay, including the original bag from Southampton, which is being re-sold by its London buyer.

Jamie Green, a customer services adviser from Maybush, put the original bag up for sale last week.

Mr Green had used the bag to carry toilet rolls and bread after a shopping trip to Tesco in Tebourba Way, Millbrook.

Amazingly it attracted 4,000 hits and more than 25 bids.

Such was its popularity - it attracted interest from France and America - Mr Green has now placed a "signed" photo of the bag on the site and promises to donate any cash raised to charity.

Written on the photo are the words "All the best, Tesco Carrier Bag". .

His ability to sell something so readily available at no cost has encouraged others to do the same.

Amit Raithatha, 27, a mobile phone salesman from Stanmore in London, said he bought the bag from Mr Green "as a joke" before deciding to re-auction it.

Mr Raithatha said: "It doesn't matter how much it makes, I just hope it sells. The bag itself wasn't worth £4.39 but all the hype is worth the money."

Mr Green said: "With the signed photo and raising money for charity, I have just taken things a little bit further. It's really caught on, I can't believe it."