HAVE you ever wondered what it would be like to own a bus shelter? Maybe you could turn it into a greenhouse? Or become the envy of your friends by using it as a unique summer house at the bottom of your garden?Well now is your chance, because council bosses have taken the unprecedented step of selling one on an internet auction site.

HAVE you ever wondered what it would be like to own a bus shelter? Maybe you could turn it into a greenhouse? Or become the envy of your friends by using it as a unique summer house at the bottom of your garden?

Well now is your chance, because council bosses have taken the unprecedented step of selling one on an internet auction site.

The blue metal and glass shelter, which measures a staggering 26 metres long and currently resides in St Andrews Street South, in Bury St Edmunds, has gone under the virtual hammer in a bid to find it a new home.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council took the unusual decision to offer the shelter to the highest bidder following unsuccessful attempts to sell it to companies and supermarket chains, for use as a trolley park or covered walkway.

Whoever buys the shelter, which holds a reserve price of £250 but has already attracted a bid of £350 after only being posted on the site for a few hours, will have until September 22 to dismantle it and remove it.

According to the council's advertisement on the auction site, the shelter, which originally cost £30,000, is “in good condition with one glazed panel missing”, and could be put to many uses.

Sara Mildmay-White, the council's portfolio holder for resources and community development, said: “This auction really does provide a unique opportunity for someone to become the proud new owner of an item which would be a fascinating talking point for their guests and friends for years to come.

“We decided to place the shelter on the internet after trying several other avenues to dispose of it. Hopefully we can start a bidding war and really create some interest - in turn benefiting out council tax payers.”