Twitter bird statue nets five-figure auction bid as part of clear-out of social media company's HQ

Elon Musk's Twitter has put hundreds of items from its San Francisco headquarters up for sale in an online auction - with a statue and electrical light display of its bird logo attracting five-figure bids.

Both were the subject of offers north of $20,000 (£16,177) with less than six hours to go.

Many of the other items are pieces of furniture, including chairs and sofas, but there is also an elaborate plant display shaped like an @ sign for $8,250 (£6,673).

The office's extensive array of high-end coffee machines, Apple computers, and digital whiteboards had catered for thousands of employees before Musk's $44bn (£38bn) takeover in October.

But the social media firm has been dramatically slimmed down since then.

Billionaire Musk sacked half of Twitter's then 8,000-strong workforce within just days of becoming owner, and the exodus continued in the weeks that followed.

Before completing his purchase of the company, he had denied reports of impending mass lay-offs.

What else is on sale?

There are more than 600 items in total up for sale with auctioneer Heritage Global Partners.

Among them is a standing desk for $700 (£563), a $350 (£281) video conferencing system, a set of folding tables for $425 (£342), and a laser projector fetching $1,550.

There is also a soundproof office phone booth for $4,700 (£3,782), and a pizza oven for $10,000 (£8,047).

A box of more than 61,000 face masks is going for more than $600 (£485).

The auction comes after Musk said Twitter was no longer "on the fast lane to bankruptcy".

He had previously justified the downsizing efforts by claiming the company otherwise risked going bust, despite concerns about the cost-cutting's impact on the safety, stability and security of the platform.

Musk's actions have seen major advertisers become skittish amid concern about Twitter's direction and ability to pay interest on the $13bn (£11bn) debt its owner took on to buy it.