AnyVan.com Helps Students Move Home

Getting a lift home at Christmas can be a bit of a pain, but a Swansea student has sparked an online bidding war for the right to get back to his mums in Birmingham.

Creative Simon Bright got rival firms bidding on a goods removal website by putting himself and his bags up to be moved to his mum's in time for the big day.

He came up with the innovative idea of advertising for help to get him home on Anyvan.com as he wasn't able to afford the price of a train ticket to take him back to Solihull, near Birmingham.

Usually, anything from sofas and household goods, including TVs are moved up and down the country through the website

But it is thought the 21-year-old Swansea University law student is one of the first to look to be moved by courier company on the site for the 150-mile trip.

He said he took the step as a money-saving measure before Christmas.

Simon said: "My mum has been nagging me to come home for Christmas.

"But I wanted to save money on the train ticket which costs £40 to £42 — I heard about the Anyvan website from a friend. I thought it was worth a gamble, as the prices to go by courier are down to £20.

"I just uploaded a picture of myself and my bags and a map of the country so people know where I am in South Wales and need to be picked up from."

He added: "The first bid was £140 which I would not have considered.

"If someone offers to transport me for £10 that would be brilliant.

"A lot of my friends thought it was a strange idea and were making fun — but they are considering it now."

The Brynmill-based student said: "My mum was quite surprised when I explained what was going on, but she was quite happy as I'm going to be saving money," Simon added.

"I travel home three or four times a year, so if it works this time I might make it a regular thing."

A spokeswoman for Anyvan.com said the cheapest bid appeared to show that a courier had taken pity on Simon and offered to add him to a load being moved from Swansea to Birmingham today for £25. After Christmas the student is planning to return by the same method.

But she warned: "As it's the season of goodwill Anyvan.com is happy to let this go as a one-off but we would not actively encourage others to follow suit."

*Original Article Available at: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/southwalesnews/Bright-idea-cheap-trip-home/article-1619977-detail/article.html