Everyone likes saving money where they can and in the current financial climate shoppers are hunting down those bargains more than ever.

So, on the lookout for a new vacuum, I decided to take a look at one of Europe's largest auction houses right here in Greater Manchester.

I stumbled across Simon Charles Auctioneers & Valuers while Googling for local auctions and I wasn't prepared for the masses of stuff this place sells.

It's all online, where you place your bids and, if you win, you collect from one of its four units, two of which are in Bredbury, Stockport; another in Stockport town centre; and the other in Handforth, Cheshire. Some items can be posted too.

Details of each 'lot' is listed on the website, where there's everything from sportswear and fitness equipment to furniture and iPhones up for grabs, as well as kitchen devices like Ninja air fryers and multi cookers.

Prices obviously start low - very low, we're talking like £1 - and then increase over the space of a week before the auction ends, similar to eBay.

I began bidding on a number of corded vacuums, with my eye on one of the Shark Stratos pet ones with anti hair wrap and anti-odour technology. With our Labrador constantly shedding, and a son who likes to return from football with half the pitch attached to his boots, it's a lot to contend with - and I'd heard good things about this particular........

© Manchester Evening News