A church in Macclesfield has been turned into a thriving bazaar of free baby and children paraphernalia.

Macclesfield Baby and Children Library is a mostly-free service which provides toys, books and more to help raise your little tikes.

It is located inside the Bethel Baptist Church on Calamine Street in Macclesfield.

Volunteer and mum herself Shannon Lancaster came up with the idea, which has proved a vital resource during the cost of living crisis.

"We've been here for the past six months," she said.

"I was running it from my living room at first, which wasn't the best idea as I have two small children of my own!

"I live round the corner from the Church, and they were amazing to have offered their Church Hall to us.

"Our running costs are £20 a month to use the space. And to fund that, we have a very small portion of our new clothes on our £1 rail.

"All the rest of the items are free for those that need it.

"We are most busy on Saturdays, we have about 50 people using it, to around 15-20 on weekdays."

An army of volunteers help donate stock, with some taking what they need in return. Shannon's mother Sandy even helps out.

There is no sign-up form needed to use the service, just that parents act in good faith in using the service for those that actually need the help.

"And is not just things for the kids we have on offer. We have clothes for mums and dads as well," Shannon added.

"Prams and carseats take up a lot of space but can really go a long way in helping out.

"We've also arranged hundreds of children's Christmas presents for families that can't afford them.

"The service is discreet, and all kids will get three presents each. We are doing adult presents too.

"Every present is something that a parent may not be able to afford themselves.

"We've got big branded toys from NFL, Fortnite and Peppa Pig. There's tablets, speakers, scooters and more. We have asked for the recipients likes and dislikes so the kid gets what they want as well.

"It is a good little operation we've got going on here. And if someone has a birthday, we can also arrange a present for them as well.

As well as individuals in the community, businesses have also got behind Shannon's cause.

Among the altruistic Macclesfield organisations to have made recent donations are Windmill Sandwich Bar, Make-up by Danielle Barlow, Macclesfield Baby Ballet and St. Paul's Church.

Tytherington School also made a donation of 100 toys. Martin Bennett Original Factory Carpets and Beds donated 150 selection boxes and has also donated a carpet for the free service's stock room.

"We survive on donations, thank you to everyone for your support," she added.

"We also have helped new Ukrainian families in association with Macclesfield resident Jeanette Rice, so will be sending some Christmas presents to them, as well as the good people at Macclesfield's Just Drop In and Pearls of Cheshire.

"It is not nice being able to afford something for your kid, can you imagine having to ask for help. So we try and make the experience as nice as possible."

Shannon is a lifelong Macclesfield resident. The former bar and telesales worker explained what she gets out volunteering her time for this community service.

"I don't like being bored," she explained.

"When you have got kids, it is really restrictive of what you can and can't do. I wanted to be more than just someone's mum, I wanted to be known as Shannon who does this.

"It wasn't meant to get this big, but I can't stop now. I have been surprised by how much good stuff people have donated. Everything you can get for free in the hall is either something that would be sitting in a charity shop or in someone's cupboard, and people find a use for it.

"I enjoy giving people things they want, and things they would not necessarily have. We had a family who donated us a Segway, and I knew of two teenagers that would love one. And their parents would have been able to afford one, but their kids are buzzing driving around Hurdsfield on that.

"I am here to co-ordinate getting the stuff from one person to another person. I am here late at night sorting things out.

"In 2023, I want to register us as a charity. But I need more people helping here to have the to do that. I am very grateful for my volunteers and donors for their support.

"I volunteer here around my son's nursery hours. We are all mums who help out here. But if we had people with the time and the drive, maybe some retired people that would be amazing to help us keep doing more for the community.

"If something like this was done in every town, shops would have no choice but to lower the prices, and things would be more affordable for everyone. And therefore we would fix our own economy."I have killed Macclesfield's secondhand market on Facebook, now people can get what they need for free. And we are reusing stuff that otherwise could go to waste.

"We give people the opportunity to live, not just survive. They are not scraping the barrel to buy their kids clothes, they are saving money while getting something for their loved one, with having some money to spare for the essentials.

"We can also buy stuff for families in need. For example, we bought a new washer for a mum who had just been diagnosed with cancer.

"Finally, I would like to thank my investor Anna. Without her we wouldn't be able to buy more of the expensive stuff."

To help out at Macclesfield Baby and Children Library, or if you want to find more about using their services and when they're open, join their 3200 strong Facebook group.

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