AN enterprising couple have launched a new business that could save parents hundreds of pounds by offering second-hand designer children s trainers from just a fiver a pair. BootXchange, based in St Neots, provides an online stock of about 150 pairs of f

AN enterprising couple have launched a new business that could save parents hundreds of pounds by offering second-hand designer children's trainers from just a fiver a pair.

BootXchange, based in St Neots, provides an online stock of about 150 pairs of football boots and a similar amount of trainers in sizes ranging from 12 to eight-and-a-half.

Customers select the trainers they need, pay from £5-£7.50 and are then asked to post their child's old boots or trainers to BootXchange.

Launched by Darren and Terri Lalonde and run from their home in Eynesbury Manor, the service has attracted more than 200 regular users.

Mr Lalonde, 34, who also works as an IT development manager in Milton Keynes and co-runs the business in his spare time, said: "Parents are fed up paying through the nose for expensive boots and trainers.

"I'm sure you have heard of parents complaining about the number of pairs of boots or trainers they seem to have to buy their children each school year.

"BootXchange.com offers the ideal solution. Parents are able to upgrade their child's football boots or trainers by swapping their outgrown pair for the next size up.

The inspiration for the business came from one of Mr Lalonde's former colleagues. His son was part of a village football team which had set up a similar scheme.

Mr Lalonde added: "The service is in the early stages of development but everyone we talk to says it's a fantastic idea, so who knows where it'll lead."

The couple, who have a 14-month-old son called Daniel, are hoping to expand the service in the future to offer all sports footwear, including rollerblades, ski boots and ice skates.

Mrs Lalonde, 35, who is a recruitment manager, said: "We understand that some kids always want new, but at the rate kids grow it can be very costly as they always want those important brands and this is certainly a way to save money and to recycle at the same time.

"For those people who can't get their kids to wear second-hand shoes we'll gladly accept donations of outgrown or unwanted sports footwear to add to our stock for others to benefit from them, as it seems a shame to just throw them away because they don't fit anymore."

INFORMATION: Anyone interested in finding out more or using BootXchange can visit www.BootXchange.com or e-mail info@bootXchange.com