Charity's shops see trade rise

OXFAM shop sales reached a five-year spike at Christmas, with high street demand for used men's and women's clothing up 14 per cent on last year, the charity has said.

Overall sales from the charity's high street shops were up 10 per cent in November and December compared with the same period in 2015, while the online shop saw 43 per cent growth.

Book sales were up five per cent and music was up four per cent.

Sales of the virtual Oxfam Unwrapped charity range, including gifts such as safe water or beekeeping training in poor countries, were up nine per cent on the high street and three per cent online.

Andrew Horton, Oxfam's trading director, said: "These figures show that shoppers love what they find in Oxfam shops and support the charity's work around the world.

"I can't thank the public enough for their support, and our volunteers and shop managers for their excellent work.

"Thanks to them, Oxfam has been able to raise even more funds than expected to help poor people across the world, including in humanitarian crises like Yemen, Syria and South Sudan."