Internet buyers go bananas

A banana half eaten by a British television presenter has sold for GBP1,650 (about HK$24,000) in an internet auction.

Kate Garraway, a presenter for the British breakfast television show GMTV, thought of the 'quirky' idea during a television discussion about eccentric objects sold on www.ebay.co.uk.

About 30,000 people reportedly made bids to buy the banana between July 4 and 11. Jaime Falarczyk, who bought the item, said that he would put the banana, or whatever was left of it, on display in front of his office 'to generate a bit more fun'.

Mr Falarczyk, who works for an online brokerage company, said the money he paid was going to charity.