Friday, 28 April, 2000, 17:14 GMT 18:14 UK
Pokemon baby swap offer
The Pokemon craze reached new heights after an eight-year-old boy offered to swap his baby sister for one of the cards during a radio phone-in.
Harvey Flexman told listeners to Ocean FM, which broadcasts across Hampshire, that he would exchange his 10-month-old sister Mollie for a rare Holographic Vaporean card.

Harvey, from North End, near Portsmouth, had already offered his toys, pocket money, bed and Easter Eggs.




I drew the line when he suggested Mollie as well

Jo Flexman, Harvey's mother 

Radio presenter Spencer Kelly said: "I can assure Harvey's mum that we would not have accepted little Mollie in exchange for a card.

"But we did give the card to Harvey because he had an Arcanine which another little boy was desperate for."

Cards banned

Harvey's mum, Jo Flexman, said Pokemon cards had been banned at her son's school after children began swapping them for their packed lunches.

She added: "Harvey was desperate for the Vaporean card. He said he would swap all his toys, Easter eggs, pocket money and even his bed - but I drew the line when he suggested Mollie as well."




Many schools have banned the cards

But the swap shop angered some callers, who said it was whipping children into a frenzy.

One caller, who would not be named, said: "I think it is terrible what the station is doing. My son was left crying because he didn't get the card he wanted."

The Pokemon craze has even led to muggings as youngsters try to obtain rare cards.
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