Google is reported to be in talks to buy popular video-sharing website YouTube for $1.6bn (£856m).

The Wall Street Journal said discussions between the two sides were at a sensitive stage and the talks could break up.

Neither Google nor YouTube have made any comment.

Launched in February 2005, YouTube has grown quickly into one of the most popular websites on the internet, with 100 million videos viewed every day.

Previous denials

Founded by three former employees of eBay's PayPal electronic payment unit, YouTube has denied previous rumours of a takeover.

YouTube chief executive Chad Hurley said earlier this year that the company was not for sale and a future share flotation was possible.

A potential future problem for YouTube and any buyer, is that a great many users put up their favourite music videos and film clips, for which they have not gained copyright approval.

YouTube has an estimated 20 million individual visitors each month.