Performers from the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony are "cashing in" on their moment in history by selling props and costumes online for thousands of pounds.

Volunteers in Danny Boyle’s ￡27 million extravaganza, one of the most successful shows in TV history, have placed a variety of items on eBay for as much as ￡5,000.

They include costumes, a book read by JK Rowling, programmes and even confetti that was fired into the air as the British team entered the 80,000-seat stadium.

While Games officials insisted they were happy that any props “go to a good home” other performers labelled the decision as “crass”, “disrespectful” and not in the spirit of the Friday night’s performance.

On Monday night, bids for a Freddie Mercury costume were starting at ￡5000, an “Industrial Revolution” costume was on sale for ￡2500 while a male nurse outfit was posted for more than ￡2000.

Another "1990s" florescence colour outfit was on sale for ￡1500 while a David Bowie costume, also worn during the music section of the show, was retailing for ￡600.

The official short story book used by the Harry Potter author, who read the opening to JM Barrie’s Peter Pan to the children of Great Ormond Street Hospital, was put on sale by an unnamed doctor for ￡30, plus ￡4.50 postage on eBay.

But some performers have been left angry by the decision of their colleagues to “cash in” on the ceremony.

One “Industrial Revolution” performer, who did not want to be named, told The Daily Telegraph: “I think it is a bit crass really. While we were told they were ours and were not told not to auction them, I still think it is very disrespectful.”

Another said: “A group of us joked ... as to how much our costumes would sell on eBay but it was very tongue in cheek. It is not really in the spirit, is it?”

But Jessykar Donald, 29, defended her decision to auction her costumes on eBay for ￡5,000 in order to invest in a cupcake business. Miss Donald, from Shepperton, Surrey, said: “Although it'll be a shame to miss out on keeping my costumes I have decided to sell them.

“Having been inspired by the spirit of the games given that I've been fortunate enough to be involved so closely, I thought it may be able to help me achieve one of my own ambitions when it is all over.”

(Read by Rosie Tuck. Rosie Tuck is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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(Agencies)