We searched the internet to try and find the cheapest XL bully being sold in south east London ahead of the Prime Minister’s breed ban.

After the announcement of an impending ban on the sale of American XL Bullies, there has been a rush to sell this breed, with reports of listings appearing on selling sites all over the country.

According to The Independent, hundreds of these dogs have been posted for sale online since Rishi Sunak proposed the ban.

Following the confirmation of the ban, there has been a sudden surge in listings of this breed on platforms like pets4homes.co.uk and various social media platforms.

The prices for these dogs on various websites can go as high as £4,000 but they have been seen on sale for very low amounts.

There is concern that owners may be trying to sell these dogs quickly, as it is unlikely they will be able to do so legally once the ban comes into effect.

We searched through the cheapest dogs we could find being sold online in south east London and found Donny, a male XL Bully who was being sold for £200.

He is 13-months-old, and his advert was listed five weeks ago on freeads.com.

Donny is looking for a loving family home after he was given away to a seller in Lewisham.

The advert says: “Beautiful kind loving natured boy great with dog’s female and male “Amazing with kids very patient and just an all-round perfect family dog “He got given to me around a month ago where I have been working with him and we are trying to find him the perfect loving home that he can call his “Only issue I've had with him is he pulls a lot on lead but nothing that cannot be fixed.”

The Environment Secretary has said the UK Government is “pretty close” to bringing forward its proposed ban on American XL bullies following a spate of attacks attributed to the dog type.

Therese Coffey said she thought a “good definition” of the dog type had been agreed, with only a “few other things” such as compensation needing to be signed-off.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last month that his administration would ban the dogs by the end of the year by adding them to the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Last week, a 60-year-old woman in Brisley, Norfolk, was mauled by her own XL bully dog, which escaped and then had to be destroyed.

Earlier this month, 54-year-old Ian Langley died after being assaulted by an XL in Sunderland while out walking his own puppy.

Ms Coffey, giving evidence to the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, told MPs: “I believe we have got a good definition.

“I really had hoped we could get sorted more quickly and we are very close to that.

“It is just a few other things, including aspects of compensation and some other things that we need to make sure are in place and ready to rock and roll.”

Not all animal charities are in favour of a ban, with the Environment Secretary confirming that the RSPCA had pulled out of a consultation about the definition of the dog type.

The animal welfare charity is part of the Dog Control Coalition, along with the likes of the Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Association, which put out a statement following Mr Sunak’s announcement, arguing that a ban “will sadly not stop” the attacks.