Repair not replace...thrifty Britons turning clock back

THE cost-of-living crisis is seeing Britons fix rather than replace their damaged belongings - just as previous generations once did.

- Ross Kaniuk

Repair shops were once a feature of town centres, but they began to disappear as new consumer goods became more affordable.

But soaring inflation has left people feeling the squeeze, and pop-up repair cafes- offering free help and expertise - have started to appear around the country.

BBC cult hit The Repair Shop, presented by furniture restorer Jay Blades, has attracted millions of viewers since it began in 2017.