Pokémon Go expert? Get paid for playing

A site connecting customers with local freelance workers has spotted an opportunity, and is signing up experienced Pokémon Go players.

The game - which has take the world by storm - requires users to walk about in the real world to move their avatar in the game.

And the new Bidvine service is aimed at gamers who want to level up and amass Pokémon - but who don't have time to spend hours trotting around.

After putting in a postcode – the service is available nationally – the player will be asked to specify what they'd like the trainer to accomplish.

This could be anything from helping to hatch Pokémon eggs – which needs at least a couple of kilometres of in-game walking – to asking the walker to go to a specific area whereby certain Pokémon are more likely to be seen. Water-based Pokémon, for example, are usually found near actual rivers and lakes.

"Pokémon Go has been an incredible success without having even been released here in the UK yet. For more than twenty years gamers have been trying to 'catch them all', and with the help of our professional Pokémon Go walkers, players will be able to level up without having to so much as make one step," says CEO Sohrab Jahanbani.

"Of course, you could say an element of enjoyment is lost in somebody else playing the game for you, but with the official UK launch soon, gamers will be looking for any advantage they can get and we're happy to give it to them."

While the game hasn't yet been officially launched in the UK, download workarounds for both Android and iOS devices mean there's already a large number of keen Brits playing the game - and in a position to help other players.

Walkers will be kitted out with portable external battery packs for a number of handsets, so that the client's phone is returned fully charged.

"When I found out that Bidvine is recruiting Pokémon Go walkers, I signed up straight away - it's the perfect summer job for me," says walker 21-year-old Xavier Choong.

"I have been playing Pokémon Go ever since it was first released and absolutely love it. I'm really looking forward to putting my skills to use and making some money in the process!"

Potential walkers can sign up here; they can set their own prices, but Bidvine expects them to be able to charge around £15 an hour.