The world's biggest online auction company, eBay, is coming under heavy criticism after a 13-year-old boy from New Jersey successfully bid for more than $3m (£2m) worth of goods through his computer.

Jane Hughes: He spent an enormous amount of money

Andrew Tyler apparently developed a taste for on-line auctions when he offered his best friend, Caston, up for sale on the Internet as a slave, warning that he was ugly and smelt, but worked hard.

There were no takers, so he then set up an account with e-Bay and began bidding for things himself.

Andrew has been banned from using the Internet

He quickly ran up a bill of more than $3m, placing successful bids for things like a replica Viking ship, a Van Gogh painting, a couple of classic cars and one of Canada's national treasures - the bedroom furniture which once belonged to the nation's first Prime Minister, John Macdonald.

Once eBay realised it was dealing with a 13-year-old, it cancelled the sales, infuriating sellers who thought they'd found themselves buyers.

eBay is now facing legal action.