From designer clothing brands to rare books, Jesmond’s charity shops are attracting shoppers looking for something a little different from the high street.

Staff at Mind Matters and Oxfam Books & Music on St George’s Terrace, say people travel from outside of the area to browse their shelves and clothing rails, while students are also taking advantage of second-hand shopping during term time.

At Mind, store manager Leanne Farrier says the shop attracts customers looking for designer labels with some visiting their shop in particular to see what they can find.

The shop receives a range of donations, including higher-end clothing, which Farrier believes is partly influenced by its location in Jesmond.

Although designer items are still regularly donated, she says the shop receives fewer than it used to.

“I think a lot of people are doing it on Vinted now, trying to make money themselves,” she said.

Despite this, designer clothing remains a draw for customers. “We’ve got different kinds of customers, but a lot of them do come in specifically for their designer ranges,” Farrier explained.

It’s not just clothes attracting bargain hunters to Jesmond.

At Oxfam Books & Music, volunteer Molly, who did not give her surname without her manager’s permission, says the shop’s selection of books has encouraged people to travel from further afeild.

She recalled hearing about a customer who’s favourite Oxfam bookshops were in Jesmond and Aberdeen, and who made a point of visiting the Jesmond brand specifically.

Molly believes the surrounding area helps the shop receive a wide variety of donations, including academic books that can be useful for university students.

“We get quite a lot of good academic books, which I think is partly because of the area that we’re in,” she said.

Fiction and crime books are among the shop’s quickest sellers, while science fiction is also particularly popular.

For Molly, the appeal of second-hand shopping is the chance to find something unexpected.

She recalled discovering a rare book about Aboriginal Australian communities that she had been searching for over several years.

“I bought it immediately,” she said. “I was looking for that forever and I could never get hold of it.”

With unusual donations, designer clothing and specialist books on offer, Jesmond’s charity shops appear to be attracting customers for more than just low prices.

For some shoppers, the appeal is finding something they might not come across anywhere else.