AN online entrepreneur has set up a business to allow people without computers to trade on the internet.

Graham Roberts, 25, of Bury Fold Lane, Darwen, has set up a virtual' shop on internet trading website eBay, running from his home.

He can be hired by anybody wishing to sell an item on eBay, but who has not got the time or computer access to log on to the website themselves.

Mr Roberts is hoping the rising popularity of trading online will help him create a successful business of his own, Online Auction Co. If successful, he could move into proper premises.

The former pupil at St Bede's RC High School, Blackburn, is a sole trader and registered his company at the beginning of November.

He said: "What I am doing is letting people keep their possessions or goods. We go round and take a picture and give them a guide price and come up with a description of the goods as well.

"We discuss the fees from eBay and ours and then we work on their behalf. We deal with all the questions from the bidders.

"It's early days yet but there seems to be quite a lot of interest in it. There is a company in Leigh doing something quite similar from shop premises and I got the idea from them really. I do it part time at the moment but hopefully as it grows I will be going on to do it full time."

Graham works for an insurance firm when he is not running his internet business, which trades from one of eBay's "shops" so customers can log on to the eBay shops section and see everything for sale by him.

Graham said:" I worked as an apprentice mechanic but even back then when I was only 16, I knew I wanted my own garage, to work for myself but the problem was with that, I wasn't a very good mechanic.

"I have no doubt Online Auction Co has the potential to be an on-going success due to giving people a national audience for their goods and taking away the hassle of people selling on eBay themselves ."

Recently eBay has been a focus for new entrepreneurs hoping to make money by trading online, with many working as intermediaries.