A BOOKSHOP set up to sell radical literature has been serving the community for more than 40 years.

October Books was established in order to provide alternative radical literature to what was widely available.

Claire Diaper, 56, who leads the team at October Books, said: “The bookshop was established to provide radical books, to provide alternative literature to what was widely available at the time.

“It was and still is important to sell literature that isn’t widely available in order to represent voices in our community and to raise awareness and inspire learning about people’s different experiences.”

The bookshop has its origins in the radical bookshop movement which was fuelled by a desire to access alternative pollical ideas.

In 2018, the local community raised over £300,000 for its own building.

The team started looking for another building and at the time, the old NatWest Bank in Portswood High Street came on the market.

Plans were drawn up, together with the help of the community they raised over £300,000 and the premises was bought.

October Books has also recently become a community benefit society which means they conduct business that will benefit their community.

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