A listing on eBay offering "a section of timber", claimed to be from Notre-Dame cathedral after Monday's devastating fire, has been removed from the auction website.

Bidding began at 99p and the advert, which included a generic photograph of a burning log, said the item would be posted from the UK "with Royal Mail 2nd Class Letter" for a fee of 61p.

T-shirts with the slogan "Je Suis Notre Dame" - posted under at least 14 separate listings, have also been removed by the US company.

Image: eBay said it 'does not tolerate the sale of any item that seeks to profit from human suffering'

An eBay spokesman said: "eBay does not tolerate the sale of any item that seeks to profit from human suffering or tragedy and this listing has been removed."

Image: Before (R) and after a huge fire broke out in the Notre-Dame

Warnings are given to sellers who try to post such items and repeat offenders face having their accounts suspended.


The company says it will continue to conduct regular scans for similar items posted on its site.

According to its website, the firm's policy permits items related to natural disasters which have "substantial social, artistic, or political value".

"Charity websites or charity listings set up to benefit the victims of a disaster or tragic event" are also allowed.

But it bans items that "graphically portray, glorify or attempt to profit from human tragedy or suffering, or that are insensitive to victims of such events".