(Above) Dinosaurs are not just for Christmas... Yorkshire Museum guide Gemma Schofield with the amphibian, which is now for sale on eBay
The Museum of Yorkshire in York is urging people to find a home for a new pet this Christmas - a five-foot long, ancient amphibian they have put up for sale on eBay.
The model is based on the sort of prehistoric reptile which would have roamed Yorkshire's tropical swamps 312 years ago. It has proved popular with visitors entering the Musuem on the ground floor.
"A lot of children enjoy giving it a pat on the head, although many people mistake it for a crocodile," said Andrew Morrison, Project Leader at the Museum. "It has been a much-loved part of the Museum for more than 10 years."
A £2 million refurbishment to the building means there is no longer space for the model. But rather than destroy it, staff decided to see if Christmas shoppers looking for unusual gifts would be tempted to snap it up online.
To bid, people can visit eBay and search for "York Museum Trust amphibian". Biddings ends at noon on Sunday December 20, and the winner must be able to collect the exhibit before 12pm on December 24.
The amphibian is about 174cm long, 130cm wide and 78cm high. All money raised will go towards the refurbishment of the Museum, which will reopen on August 1 2010.
