AFTER years under the threat of closure, the Oxfam shop in Ulverston has "saved its bacon" after embracing online sales and becoming the best branch in the UK.

For years, declining footfall on the high street and consumers having less money to spend contributed to a bleak outlook for the charity.

However, since changing its focus its to online sales, the shop has been reborn. Linking its stockroom to the entire world via the internet it has sent its goods to as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Manager Jill Ambrose reflected on what has been an astonishing turnaround for the shop.

She said: "The high street was really struggling. Our shop wasn't making enough money to survive."

In a last ditch effort to save the shop, which employs several local people, it went online. Joining hundreds of other branches across the UK on Oxfam's retail website it soon started to see the orders roll in.

Mrs Ambrose said: "It's saved our bacon. We've taken six times as much money in the financial year [compared to the shop floor]."

The work is not easy for the staff. With more than 5,000 items in stock with more donated every day it is a huge undertaking to catalogue every item.

Once in the system, items appear on the Oxfam website ready for sale.

Mrs Ambrose continued: "It's a lot of hard work, but the volunteers we've got are fantastic."

In charge for three-and-a-half years it has been a rollercoaster ride for the store. Tasked with trying to help the worst off in society, when at the same time running a viable business was a stressful task.

"I was worried for a while," she said

"I took over and sales increased slightly but not enough to be profitable. More and more charity shops were opening on the high streets but we noticed a decline in footfall in town.

"But we're back to being profitable again."

Mrs Ambrose was elusive on how much turnover the shop was making, but, put the profits down to the good quality of local donations.

She concluded: "We just get some really good donations."

How you can help:

The Oxfam store is successful down the strength of its volunteer team. Mrs Ambrose called for more help to ensure it can help as many people as possible.

She said: "We have 21 volunteers in the shop. They are mostly in the shop or the back stock room.

Anyone can volunteer at the store, for as little as two hours a week. If you are interested, visit the shop to talk to Mrs Ambrose. You can find it in King Street, Ulverston.