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As MPs consider backing a bill to curb the spiralling cost of school clothing, family run business Crystal Knitwear is encouraging Mansfield parents to swap their child’s outgrown uniform for something that fits in a bid to help the community.

Items can be swapped, free of charge, at the company’s shop on Pelham Street.

Company secretary, Lisa Bingley and managing director, Chris Bingley were concerned that families in Mansfield were struggling to afford the rising cost of uniform.

Lisa and Chris Bingley of Crystal Knitwear, pictured with their children Jessica and Charlotte

"It it helps even just one family who is struggling to afford uniform then that is enough for me," said Lisa.

"The more people that know we're offering this, then the more benefit it will have for people that need it."

Crystal Knitwear posted about the new recycling scheme on social media to help raise awareness.

The announcement has had over 100 shares and reached around 6,000 local people according to the social media site.

"We came up with the idea to recycle blazers, because we wanted to stop them from going to landfill waste and hang them in the shop for parents to take off the rail," Chris added.

"It was just a conversation we were having about recycling and realised it just fit with our policy of recycling cardboard and plastic anyway."

It comes after the news that the government intends to support new legislation that would cut the cost of uniforms in England.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury's proposed bill would make schools have only a small number of compulsory branded items.

The business is currently only asking for blazers to be swapped as they are often the most high cost item to purchase.

They hope to offer a full range of uniform if the scheme proves popular and they receive enough donations.

"There is no monetary gain to us, we just want to help other people save money and also stop so many clothes going into landfill," the business owner said.

For more information about how you can donate unwanted school clothes, contact [email protected].

Mansfield company offering school blazer swap to help with cost of uniforms