World's longest Hula Hoop sells on eBay for £712
A MUSICIAN has sold the world's longest Hula Hoop at auction for an eye-watering £712.
The mutated three-inch crisp – dubbed the longest Hula Hoop in the world – has been sold on eBay for the price of more than 1,300 individual PACKETS of the popular snacks.
Artist and musician Stuart Hampton, 31, decided to sell his unusual salt and vinegar flavour find on eBay after discovering the extraordinary Hula Hoop while snacking in bed.
It blew my mind when I found it, it was in perfect condition. I didn’t eat it because I thought it would be more fun showing it to the world
He said: "It blew my mind when I found it, it was in perfect condition.
"I didn’t eat it because I thought it would be more fun showing it to the world."
In the eBay listing, the crisp is categorised as "used" – with the caveat "well, its out of the packet, but I will put it in a sealed plastic bag for you."
Bids started at just £1 but soon gathered speed – shooting to £140 overnight.
The final bid, which narrowly scooped the deformed crisp at the last minute, originated from Heywood, in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, Mr Hampton revealed.
The musician, from Darnhill, in Manchester, admitted: "I can’t be sure whether it’s a genuine bid or not.
"Legally the bidder has to pay up I think but I won’t pursue it if they don’t, it’s only a crisp after all.
"If he or she doesn’t pay within the next few days I will get in touch with the other people and sell it to one of them."
When asked what he would do with his £712 if the winning bidder decides to fork-out for the Hula Hoop, Mr Hampton said: "The money it is definitely going towards my commune."
Mr Hampton has now launched a website to fund his lifelong ambition of a hippie commune, branded The Freeriver Community.
The official website states: "Freeriver is a space that will hold a spiritual and peaceful intention.
"It will be very free in nature with no set ideas, instead people will be free to find their own way and cultivate a way of being that feels right for them."
Funding his Freeriver utopia, the 31-year-old musician has listed another unusual item on his eBay account – his love.
Priced at £5, if bought Mr Hampton promises to "sit quietly somewhere and send you "good vibes" and love".
The winning bidder will also be the proud recipient of a 'Love Heart email'.
In response to the success of Mr Hampton's pricey crisp auction, another eBay opportunist has listed an elongated salt and vinegar snack.
With an ambitious starting price of £250 – there have yet to be any bids.
