XIAOMI Copyright: XIAOMI Only three Mi 8 Lite phones could be bought in the first flash sale Image caption: Only three Mi 8 Lite phones could be bought in the first flash sale

"Flash sales" publicising a Chinese smartphone company's UK launch have sparked a backlash on social media.

Xiaomi advertised two of its new handsets for £1 each last week as part of a "crazy deals" promotion.

But it has emerged that each flash sale involved only two or three phones and Xiaomi had set its website to say: "Sold out," as soon as the sale opened.

The UK's ads watchdog said it had received a complaint and was now deciding whether to investigate.

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