Many British people could make enough money to treat themselves to a holiday this year by selling unwanted belongings online, according to eBay.

The auction website commissioned research which found that the average UK household contains more than £1,045 worth of unused items that could be sold and sent to new owners via eBay courier services.

Across all the homes in Britain, the value of these possessions adds up to £27 billion, according to the study.

Mobile phones, which have an average eBay selling price (AESP) of £109, are among the most common useful objects gathering dust in people's houses, along with handbags (AESP: £21) and laptops (AESP: £142).

The TNS Consumer research commissioned by the online retailer revealed that five per cent of Brits, or three million people, rarely throw things away, preferring to hoard items at home, even if they are no longer being used.

Italians were found to be the biggest hoarders in Europe, with the average household containing 84 objects that are not wanted or in use.

eBay spokesperson Laura Wilkinson said: "Just because you no longer use something, it doesn't mean it's not useful to someone, or not worth something in re-sell value.

"For example, sat-navs sell for an average of £73, games consoles for £58 and bicycles for £122.

"Selling things you no longer need helps de-clutter the home and it's never been so easy."

Ms Wilkinson went on to say that eBay sellers using parcel delivery services can download the auction website's app for free, allowing them to list items in minutes using barcode scanning technology.

The company also provided some advice for people hoping to attract buyers for their products, highlighting the importance of starting with a low asking price and choosing a title that grabs the attention of shoppers while being informative.

Author:  Adrian Medland