Police said it did not relate to any parent or child known to the authorities

Invited users to reply to find out more about 'his adoption procedure'

Advert for baby boy appeared on West Midlands website for used goods

An advert selling a baby boy for £15,000 was spotted on a website for second-hand goods.

The post appeared on West Midlands classified site useddudley.co.uk under the heading: '15,000 1 Year Months Old Boy For Adoption'.

Accompanied by a seemingly professional baby photo, the listing said the toddler, named Daniel, 'loved cars, stacking cups, balls and books', as well as 'cuddles and being around other children'.

Listing: The post, which has since been removed, appeared on West Midlands classified site useddudley.co.uk

It claimed the child was 'under the care of the church' and invited users to send an email if they wanted 'to know more about Daniel, his parents and his adoption procedure'.

Posted by user 'jamescamalida', the post, which has since been removed, also appeared on other local versions of the site for Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall.

A number of concerned users contacted the website after seeing the advert. Helen Slater, from Dudley, who spotted the post on July 25 said she was 'absolutely stunned'.

She said: 'My first thoughts were for the welfare of the child and that the parents could be unstable and a threat to the baby's wellbeing.'

The site, run from a head office in Canada under bannerusedeverywhere.com, is a subsidiary of Black Press Community News Media.

Elizabeth Dutton, of Black Press, said live moderators are used to try and prevent such adverts appearing. They use the latest technology which automatically blocks items using certain words.

Reported: The listing claimed the child was 'under the care of the church' and invited users to send an email if they wanted 'to know more about Daniel, his parents and his adoption procedure'

The word baby was often used to describe clothes and kit and could not be blocked, she said.

She added the advert was placed using an email address 'frequently used for scams' which had now been blocked.

West Midlands Police confirmed it is investigating the post.

A spokesman said: 'We are aware of an advert placed on a Dudley classifieds site which appears to show a child being offered for adoption for a fee.

'We are still working to establish the veracity of the post but inquiries so far have established that the details in the advert do not correspond with any parent or child known to the authorities.'

Claire Campbell, regional communications officer for the NSPCC, said: 'Adverts like this can cause distress to members of the public who stumble across such things online.