Sheffielder's decision to re-sell Sheffield United's limited edition third kit for charity on eBay hijacked by '˜fake bidders' who take it over £5,500

The popular white third shirt went on sale on Friday in limited numbers, after negotiations between United and kit suppliers adidas produced around 500.

And the following day, an eBay user from Sheffield put the shirt up for sale, with a starting price of £50 - £3 more than the retail price, which included a £2 donation to the Alzheimer's Society.

Bidding reached three figures by the end of the first day and hit £1,000 on Sunday, when the bids were hijacked. The last, placed on Sunday evening just before 9pm, took the bidding to £5,600.

The auction site charges 10 per cent of an item’s total price in fees, which can be claimed back if an item isn’t paid for.

The seller, who asked to remain anonymous, has contacted The Star to say that the shirt was being auctioned to benefit St Luke’s Hospice and Weston Park and admits that he believes the bids to be fake.

Blades boss Chris Wilder has agreed to get his squad to sign the shirt, and it will be auctioned again over the weekend - with money split between two charities close to the seller’s heart.

United previously said the shirt would not be brought out in their stores, but a number of Blades fans lobbied them - leading to negotiations with kit supplier adidas.

Fans queued around the car park to get their hands on the shirt on Friday, and it sold out in a matter of hours.

Over the weekend, another shirt attracted a remarkable bid of £14,000 before it was taken down by the seller.