For sale on eBay: A genuine Oxford Street paving slab, only 100million previous users

THE DISPOSSESSED FUND: It worked for Wembley stadium turf and chunks of the Berlin Wall. Now council officials are auctioning a rather less historic artefact - an Oxford Street paving slab.

It is one of hundreds being dug up as part of a £1.7 million makeover of the pavements at the Tottenham Court Road end of Europe's busiest shopping street.

The 60kg flagstone and an Oxford Street sign are being sold on eBay with proceeds going to the Standard's Dispossessed charity fund.

The York stone slab, measuring about 75cm by 90cm and 6.5cm thick, is likely to have been stepped on by about 100 million visitors. The winning bidder will be required to pick up the stone in person or face a weighty delivery bill. The auction was the idea of the New West End Company, which represents 600 traders in central London and was agreed by Westminster council.

The pavement improvements mark the first stage of a £1 billion makeover of the "Cinderella" end of Oxford Street, where cheap souvenir shops and chain stores have dominated. At the same time Tottenham Court Road station has been closed for eight months as part of a £500 million upgrade.

The pavements are also being widened with bus lay-bys removed to make it easier for pedestrians to cross. Some traffic signs and signals are also being removed.

Chad Strickland, 30, a draughtsman from Tunbridge Wells, said: "Would I buy a paving slab? I don't think so. It would be a different matter if they were offering me a piece of turf from the pitch at Wembley. But I know some people will buy them, seeing as it's for a good cause."

Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster council, said: "We recycle as much as possible of our building and street materials removed in similar projects but are delighted to commit to an eBay auction of a flagstone from Oxford Street."

The auction goes live on eBay today and can be found under "world-famous official Oxford Street road sign and paving slab".