The sale of a cheque for nearly £100,000 issued by Woolworths, which was auctioned for charity, has fallen through after it was discovered the winning bidder was a fake.

The cheque had been put up for sale on eBay by Corsley-based gadget and mobile phone operator TMTI.

The company received the cheque for £97,916.60 in payment for services the day before the store went into administration on November 26.

The firm was told the cheque would bounce and so decided to sell it as a collector item on eBay and raise money for charity.

After three days and 31 bids, someone using the name 'jordan-leach 93' offered £1,550 for the cheque, but it was later discovered that it was a fraudulent bid.

The second bidder was also unable to come up with the money so TMTI is contacting the next highest bidder in the hope the cheque can be sold and the cash given to the National Autistic Society.

Commercial development director Neil Jones said: "We have been frustrated up until now and we are hoping to go to the next highest bidder, to tell they have won the item after all."

TMTI has joined the list of Woolworths' unsecured creditors waiting to see what comes out of the administration process.