Weather worries hit city yard sale

Just six people opened their driveways or garages to the public in the first ever monthly Norwich yard sale – but organisers said 20 people were already signed up to take part in next month's event.

The new initiative will run in greater Norwich on the first Sunday of every month and has been introduced as an alternative to car boot sales with events run from people's own driveways and garages.

People can empty the contents of their lofts onto their driveways, yards or garages and then relax while potential punters come to them – rather than having to pack the car and head off to a muddy car boot field.

Gary Barnes, owner of Barnes Auctioneers, the company organising the events, said a bad weather forecast hit the first event on Sunday, but he expected the new idea to soon take off.

He said: 'The weather forecast was for torrential rain on Sunday so half the 12 people who said they would take part pulled out because they thought that nobody would turn out, but the weather did not turn out that way.

'But we were still pleased with it as the first one ever in Norwich. Anyway, a lot of those who cancelled have signed up for the next event with 20 people already taking part on November 7.'

Mr Barnes took part in the yard sale by opening his home office in Yarmouth Road, Thorpe St Andrew, to the public on Sunday, and sold several hundred pounds worth of goods.

However, Angela Wright, from Hall Road, Norwich, who also took part, only managed to raise �10, although she said she had signed up for the next event. Households pay �10 to be added to a route map which is made available to buyers on the morning of the sale.

For more information or to find out how to get involved, call Barnes Auctioneers on 01603 304337 or 07810 646711.

Are you organising a new venture? Contact David Bale on 01603 772429 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.