SWAP SHOP!

SCORES of happy swappers bagged plenty of bargains at the Transition Town swap shop on Saturday. Around 80 people turned up at the Holme Street Arts Centre with unwanted Christmas presents and other things they did not need and traded them in for items they could put to good use.

Mike Hancock of Cabaret Heaven took the role of Noel Edmonds from the popular 70s TV series The Multi Coloured Swap Shop, inviting would be swappers up to show off their stuff in the hope of taking home a top swap.

Lots of DVDs and play station games changed hands among the children while the adults got busy swapping all sorts of clothes, kitchen equipment and a push chair.

"It went down a storm. People loved the idea of exchanging things to get what they need rather than spending money.

"It's a really sociable way of recycling what's going to waste or gathering dust," said a Transition Town group spokesperson.

"It has given people ideas and there are plans for a book swap brewing".

"It is the sort of thing you can do among your friends and in your street. The Trades Club held a successful clothes swap a few months ago."

The Transition Town group is working on a plan to officially launch Hebden Bridge on a track to becoming a low carbon community.