The online advert offering a baby-making service “with no strings attached” began as a joke on a young man but soon got out of hand, landing him in trouble.

When William Cutajar and his friends posted an advert on the shopping and auction website MaltaPark offering “professional baby making” at €50 per session, little did they think that the story would go viral.

“It was only a joke and now it’s turned sour. It’s practically getting out of hand and it’s not fair on him. People got to know who the number belonged to,” Mr Cutajar said.

The advert, that appeared online on Thursday, read: “Are you a woman who wants to have a baby but does not want a relationship? We offer a discreet professional baby-making service with no strings attached! Call us now!”

Mr Cutajar said the group of friends had come across an article on the Daily Mail’s website, dailymail.com, about a Dutchman who sleeps with women to turn their dream of becoming mothers into reality... for free.

Teasingly, they told their friend he should do something similar and, later, they posted the advert using his number.

Eventually, he got to know about the joke his friends played on him and went along with it, even answering a call when someone asked for details about the session.

But by the time the notice was removed, it had gone viral to the extent that Mr Cutajar yesterday felt he should contact The Times to explain the whole story was a joke.

“It was clear, from the advert, that it was a joke, especially because the advert said part exchange was considered. It was also put on my account and not on our friend’s,” he said.

“It was a joke that got out of hand and we’ve definitely learnt a lesson,” Mr Cutajar said.