A radical bookshop in Caledonian Road has successfully raised over £3,000 via a crowdfunding campaign to expand its basement, put on more events and increase its range of books.

Housmans Bookshop, which celebrated its 70th birthday in October, had already raised £20,000 but needed extra funds for set-up costs. So they decided to reach out to its customers and the public to raise the extra money.

Co-manager, Nik Gorecki, said they were delighted and surprised by the response.

He said: “It’s very heart warming to see the support of the public and our customers. The expansion feels a very exciting thing for us to be doing.”

Mr Gorecki, who has been co-manager at the store for nine years, said the expansion of Housmans is particularly important at a time when independent bookshops are struggling on the high street.

He said: “Bookshops are crucial to high streets which are in danger of becoming monotone places.

“Political bookshops really bring politics to the high street where it belongs and means people can come into contact with political agendas.”

Housmans has been visited by local MP and Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn and Canadian activist Naomi Klein.