Consumers are increasingly turning to second-hand items, as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.

That's according to research from eBay Ads, which found that 30 per cent are having to make more considered purchases and a fifth are buying more second-hand items to save money, as reported by Charged Retail.

A quarter of UK consumers said they bought pre-loved fashion in 2021 and the same figure say they now try to upcycle or repair items before they buy new.

The research found that 19 per cent of those surveyed say shopping as sustainably as possible is really important. A further 22 per cent said they are conscious of discarding and sending items to landfill which could be repaired, recycled or sold on.

The news comes as Wickes launches its own store on eBay, taking its first step into the marketplace.

The home improvement business, which has stores in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester, has curated a range of over 4,000 products for eBay, as reported by Retail Gazette.

Its eBay range includes flooring, tiles, paint, ready to fit kitchen and garden products.

The partnership with eBay is a six-month trial, to help Wickes gain and retain new customers.

It said the collaboration will help it better understand home improvement customers and inform more channel opportunities in the future.