SUSTAINABLE Crediton's Give and Take "Pop Up Shop", where shoppers can take five items a day, free-of-charge, has "exceeded all our expectations" says one of the shop founders.

Paula Mossman said that 546 people visited it on the day it opened, Friday, February 6 with 626 passing through the doors the next day and nearly 500 on the Monday.

The empty shop, which had formerly been occupied by Gee's, had been filled with a vast range of items and there was a queue of dozens of people awaiting the opening of the shop, which took place after an official opening ceremony performed by Cllr Frank Letch, the Mayor of Crediton, accompanied by Mayoress, Mrs Natalia Letch.

A total of 80 people walked through the door in the first half an hour that morning.

The shop is open, Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 4pm, until February 21 and, uniquely, everything in it is free to take away.

The organisers are asking everyone reading this and their friends and relatives to take their unwanted but reusable household goods, baby equipment, books, CD's, garden tools, clothes, linens, etc into the shop during opening hours for others to take away.

However, everyone is welcome to visit and bag themselves an absolute bargain.

Those who go along can take away up to five items every day for no charge whatsoever whether or not they take in things to donate.

Charles Mossman, one of the shop scheme organisers, said: "We are proud of what our Waste Action Group is achieving here in Crediton and are excited about this idea.

"The purpose of the shop is to keep perfectly reusable goods in the community and out of the waste stream.

"However, we also want to give all Kirtonians the opportunity of a unique FREE shopping experience!

"It's not often that comes along! Please come into the shop and say 'hello' to us. You never know what you might find."

National Lottery funding has helped to pay for the rental of the shop in this unique and innovative venture.