Spanish take British lesson

SPANISH locals are taking to a British-style car boot sale held on the Arboleas industrial estate.

They are being attracted by the low prices for thousands of second hand items that can be found including books, CDs, clothes, shoes, furniture, electrical appliances, ornaments, trinkets, antiques, and toys.

The significant British community of the Valle de Almanzora region – mainly in Arboleas, Albox and Zurgena – is behind the creation of the market.

The weekly Saturday morning event has always attracted expatriates, but now it is becoming increasingly popular with the Spanish for two main reasons.  Firstly, they are not used to a flea-market based on a bargaining system instead of a fixed-price one, and secondly the rampant unemployment suffered by locals in the region – one of Andalucia’s highest – drives them to take advantage of the extremely low prices they can buy many items for.