Honiton's Oxfam shop in music first

HONITON'S Oxfam shop is set to be part of the release of the latest Arctic Monkeys single, in a music industry first.

The popular band is releasing Crying Lightning through the charity's network of 700 shops on Monday, August 17.

Proceeds from the sale will go towards Oxfam's relief work around the world.

The release marks the first time Oxfam shops have sold a new-release single for 25 years.

Oxfam sells around �6 million of music every year, which provides enough money to fund its programme in Indonesia or to provide safe water for eight million people.

Record company Domino and the band are appealing to their fans in Honiton to take any unwanted albums into Oxfam, when they go into buy the new single, for the charity to sell.

Not only will fans be able to buy the single, but they will also get a free download code to get an MP3 version of the song for free.

Alison Gear, shop manager, said: "Music fans from all over Honiton and the surrounding area love to dig through our collection of donated music to find some hidden treasures, and they'll be delighted that they can now pick up something as exciting and exclusive as this from their local Oxfam shop. Even better, every copy sold - and every record donated to the shop - will help us raise money to fight poverty around the world."

Laurence Bell, founder of Domino, said: "Oxfam is a great British institution and it's a delight to be working together on this project. There are about 700 Oxfam shops in the UK, many of them in high streets that once housed a record shop so, as well as raising some money for a great cause, we are able to get vinyl back on to the nation's high streets, which feels good.

"We encourage all customers to bring something of value to donate to the store, when they go, down to buy the new Arctic Monkeys single.