A student has been offered a five-figure sum of money for shares in an internet site he designed as part of his computer science degree.

Roger Stachis, from Croydon, launched hoowot.com, an internet site which lets users make free announcements to people all over the world.

The site, which Roger describes as a giant noticeboard, has attracted the attention of executives from America's Silicon Valley. A venture capital firm has offered to help promote the site and develop it.

All of the information on the site comes from hoowot.com's users. They can promote their business, advertise their website, announce the next Neighbourhood Watch meeting, try to find a lost pet, or meet pen pals.

Already the site has received some unusual entries including a marriage proposal and a confession from a man for framing his old classmate for stalking a fellow pupil.

Mr Stachis, 24, said: "I got the idea for the site whilst I was researching a very obscure topic as part of my university work.

"I was thinking to myself someone, somewhere must be doing similar research' and that was the eureka moment, with the internet's global reach, finding that someone somewhere is actually possible."

Roger says the site has been designed for speed and ease of use with no pop-ups or sign-ups and users do not need to register.

The site has proved so popular Roger has had to buy a laptop computer so he can continue to maintain it while he travels round Europe on a backpacking holiday.