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Ikea is to take on the likes of eBay and Vinted with plans to launch a new marketplace platform for its second-hand furniture and homewares.

The Swedish retail giant said it hopes the platform will make it “as seamless as possible” for consumers to buy and sell their pre-owned Ikea products.

It has not confirmed a launch date for the UK platform but said it would provide more details “in the coming months”.

Members of the firm’s membership scheme, Ikea Family, will be able to connect with other customers through the platform.

The furniture giant has already launched trials of second-hand marketplace services in other countries, including Spain and Norway.

An Ikea spokeswoman said: “At Ikea, we are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love.

“With the launch of Ikea second-hand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned Ikea furniture.

“We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our Ikea Family members to trade directly with one another.”

It represents a push by Ikea into the second-hand market amid the growing use of eBay, Vinted and Facebook Marketplace by consumers.

Vinted has expanded from purely fashion to sell electronics and homeware in recent years.

Other retailers such as John Lewis and Currys also sell pre-loved and refurbished products through their platforms.