The child had been given permission to play the colorful online game and his mother had given him access to a voucher with a small amount of credit to spend.

The statement said her son had continued to play the game in secret.

Kathrin Koerber, a legal expert with the state consumer body, said German law only allows for children to make purchases without parental permission within the limits of their pocket money – so in such cases, it is worth challenging the bill.

She noted that it was common, particularly during the coronavirus lockdown, for parents to hand their smartphones over to children to keep them occupied.

But she warned people to check their settings before they do so.