CHARITY shops up and down the country are benefiting from the credit crunch as consumers hunt for bargains.

Second-hand and bric-a-brac shops benefiting good causes now take more than half a billion pounds a year and last year profits smashed the £100m barrier mark.

The Salvation Army netted profits of £6m nationally, an increase of 64 per cent on last year and Sue Ryder Care made £2.8m, up 35 per cent.

Books, DVDs and bed linen have proved to be best-sellers as the credit crunch has brought customers in for items they would have previously bought from commercial stores. Furniture and electrical goods are also selling well.

Overall, 5,591 shops benefiting 72 charities, surveyed for Charity Finance magazine, saw profits grow on average by 7.4 per cent.

Gee Little, manager of the PDSA shop in Winton, said: "I do think the credit crunch has forced more people to look in charity shops.

"We have many really loyal supporters but we have been seeing different faces over the last two or three weeks.

"We are doing quite well, but like everybody we always look to do better.

"There is still some stigma associated with charity shops selling tat, but if we can just get them in the door they will soon see we only sell good-quality items."

She said the shop always welcomes good-quality clothes, books and other items.

Anton O'Neal, assistant manager of the British Heart Foundation, said their shop selling furniture and electrical goods is doing well.

"But we could always do better. We are definitely a place where people come to have a look and see what's on offer.

"We sell really good items. We recently sold a £1,200 sofa for £300 and had two people fighting over it."

He said the shop can collect items for free and is always looking for volunteers.

Winton's Salvation Army said they were reacting to the credit crunch by setting up a new debt counselling service.

The service offers a 24-hour phone line (01202 830024) and can assist people who have debt problems such as being in arrears with their mortgage, overdraft or bills.

Jane Hill, assistant manager of PDSA on Poole High Street, said that while custom was up, the quality of donated goods has dropped off.

"People are trying to sell them at car boots first - they come in with 10p and 20p stickers on. We get what they can't sell - on Monday morning it piles in."

Sheila Goridge, of the Poole British Heart Foundation shop, said: "At the moment I think we are doing better than other shops. I think they would like the increase we've had."

And Gaye Weddup, assistant manager of Poole High Street Oxfam, said: "We are getting more customers. I would think it must have something to do with the credit crunch."