German police said on Sunday that they have taken a seven-month baby away from a couple in Bavaria who are under investigation after putting the child for sale on internet auction site Ebay.

The baby boy was put on sale on Tuesday at a starting price of one euro ($1.58) and was withdrawn from the site around two and a half hours later, police said. There had been no offers.

The mother said it was meant as a joke, but police failed to see the funny side, putting the baby into care and launching an investigation of both parents for attempted child trafficking, a statement said.

AFP