Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis it's no surprise that charity shops are thriving.

But some places offer a lot more than just a shop full of clothing rails these days and one of them is the homelessness charity Emmaus Bolton.

Having heard about its popularity I decide to visit the place to see for myself what's on offer.

Based at Derby Barracks, a former military training hall for the 27th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, it's a huge site off Fletcher Street, not far from Bolton town centre.

There's a car park, but it's so busy that even on a midweek lunchtime I find myself struggling to find a space and end up ditching the queue to park further down the road.

Once inside - and keen not to miss anything - I decide to make my way round the site in a clockwise direction.

Starting off with The Cottages, which were bought to expand the site in 2011, I find myself climbing the stairs to a room packed corner to corner with books - paperbacks 50p, hardbacks a pound - in every kind of genre you can think of.

In another section, shelves are stuffed with vinyl, next to a 'Bric-a-brac' room full of toys, teddies, children's games and ride-ons, you name it.

Back outside and........

© Manchester Evening News