NEW pawnbrokers opened for business on Monday at the Top of The Town in Basingstoke.

Cash & Cheque Express in Wote Street offers a range of services including tradit-ional pawnbroking, cheque cashing, cash-for-gold, international money transfer and eventually payday advance loans.

The company’s head of operations Kris Baldwin felt the business had a good opening day.

He said: “We’ve had a great number of people coming in and their comments have been really positive.”

Mr Baldwin claimed that the business is an alternative to online sales giant eBay, where people can bring items as diverse as electrical items like power tools, musical instruments, DVD games and jewellery.

“We can offer cash for items on the spot, which is appealing to most people,” he said.

“But we take who we buy from very seriously - you’d have to bring in the right photographic and address ID.

“And obviously we go through a vigorous process of testing an item.”

He said Cash & Cheque Express branches are mainly in and around London with this being the 22nd to open.

“For the market we go for, we like a really good mix and Basingstoke as a town offers that,” he added.

The store also sells graded stock, such as catalogue items that might have been returned for having a slight mark, or simply have been returned by large retailers for being packaged in a wrong box.

Mr Baldwin said: “There are some very good discounts and bargains to be had.”