Highfield Improvement Project Community Association began a FreeCycle children's clothing service in the Highfield Road area of Rushden last November to help people beat the credit crunch.

The free service is held every Tuesday morning at the group's weekly coffee shop and it has a good stock of quality clothing.

Spokesman Linda Savage said: "I think everyone's really feeling the pinch after Christmas and things are worse this year because of the credit crunch.

"People haven't got a lot of money and things can be difficult because children grow out of their clothes so quickly.

"This service is designed to help and it has grown in popularity since its launch.

"People can pick up some fantastic things and our range of clothes goes right from birth up to teenagers.

"At the moment we have some good quality football shirts and some of the items look as though they have never been worn."

The service allows anyone to bring along children's clothing which has been outgrown and exchange them for larger ones or alternatives.

It takes place at Highfield Road Community Baptist Church hall, where the association coffee shop is based, every Tuesday between 9am and midday.

Visitors to the coffee shop can also purchase drinks and refreshments including a cooked breakfast for £2.

Mrs Savage added: "All the proceeds from the coffee shop are ploughed back into it. The coffee shop is a great place for people to find out what's happening in the area and about our forthcoming events."

The group's future events include a table-top sale in March, a car boot sale in May and its big birthday celebrations in June.

The money will subsidise the cost of a day trip for residents later this year.