The UK's biggest 'repair shop' has launched an online shop where Bolton residents can buy items that have been sent away to be repaired.

The Renew Hub is a 5,000 sq/m operation that brings together mechanics, qualified technicians, specialist tradespeople, charities, and social enterprises to repair, recycle, reuse and sell preloved items that would have gone to waste across Greater Manchester.

Items are donated or set aside at all of the household waste recycling centres in Greater Manchester and brought to the hub for refurbishment and resold through an online shop and three shops in Oldham, Salford and Trafford.

Likened to an Aladdin’s Cave, the centre is based in Trafford Park, and the centre is now handling more than 50,000 preloved items repairing, cleaning and in some cases upcycling them to sell back to the community at knock down prices.

The centre will also become an education facility and is an example of where the circular economy comes into itself.

At the moment it offers people struggling with bills and inflation a place to buy practically everything they may need to kit out their homes at a very low price.

All proceeds from the sale of preloved items go towards the Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund and the Greater Manchester mayor’s Andy Burnham's charity.

Among the items sold in the hub’s first year are 1,984 electronic items, 953 bikes, 745 pieces of soft furniture and 5,287 pieces of hard furniture.

Bolton Council leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, GMCA lead for the green city-region and waste and recycling, said: “We have a big target to hit in Greater Manchester in terms of going carbon neutral by 2038, and the renew hub represents a major opportunity to change the way we reuse, recycle, and cut emissions from waste.

“We need to be thinking about the things we throw away, and the hub proves that much of what you think is irreparable can actually be repaired.

“It can be used and loved again with the help of our skilled teams and partners upcycling furniture, repairing bikes and washing machines, and generally seeing the potential in someone else’s unwanted items.”

He added: “That ethos of a more circular economy doesn’t just mean cutting waste and reusing items, but also making sure that what happens at the Hub benefits people and projects here in Greater Manchester.

“We’re supporting charities and community groups that are rehoming people in need, providing quality goods that actually have a long life left in them, and our shops are offering an alternative to expensive brand-new products for local residents to access.

“It’s our hope that people across the country will see the difference being made here and think twice the next time they plan to throw something away.”