Blonde Brummie almost finds husband

The businesswoman who auctioned herself over the internet is said to be arranging meetings with two bidders.

Kay Hammond, a 24-year-old internet entrepreneur from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, made herself open to bidding on auction site eBay in December but was ejected for 'immoral sales'. She hoped originally to raise in the region of £20m in a desperate search for a husband.

When a bid came in for £1bn on Christmas Eve, the sale descended into farce, and Hammond, herself on a six-figure salary from TAMBA Internet of Birmingham, launched a second auction on rival site QXL with a reserve of £250,000.

This price received more than 38,000 hits but just two bidders, known only as Andrew1901 and Ben Webb, won the bid with offers of £251,000.

Hammond will now meet both bidders privately but, under the terms of the sale, neither can withdraw his bid.

"So often I have complained to friends, family and colleagues that I never have the time to meet men," Ms Hammond said on her QXL advertisement. "I thought that by creating an online auction, I would be able to reach as many men as possible."