A LEIGH mum has set up on online marketplace to help other parents and local charities.

Zoe Upson, 28, quickly discovered the short lifecycle of children’s clothing after the birth of her daughter.

A fast-growing baby and generous gifts from friends and family resulted in numerous unused or hardly worn items.

Zoe wanted to create an online platform that offered affordable children’s clothing to other discerning parents at the click of a button while also helping the local community.

She said “My daughter, Beatrice, is growing up so fast and I resent having to pay the full price for items that I know she will only wear a handful of times.

“I also found online marketplaces hard to navigate.

“I started to get frustrated with negotiating sales, pop-up adverts and bumping posts on social media.

“So, I decided it was about time to create a simple and easy one-stop shop for parents, who like me, needed a convenient way to buy affordable items and to sell pieces their little ones no longer fit into.

“I have always had entrepreneurial aspirations and previously set up small businesses at university, but this time I wanted to do something that made a difference and provide something back to the community.”

The online market place also supports local charities. Zoe said: “With Preloved Bebe I have chosen to support two local children’s charities, Changing Pathways and Little Havens Hospice, and a further national charity Leukaemia Care through donations.

“Since launching just a few weeks ago we have already donated a beautiful bundle of high-end clothing as well as baby toiletries to Changing Pathways, to help support families who have been victims of domestic abuse and we look forward to making many more donations over the upcoming months.”

Preloved Bebe provides sellers with the option to request “donate to charity”, “recycle” or “send back” should items not match the re-sale criteria. Visit prelovedbebe.com