How I spent £5 at Ashley Heath's car boot sale

I love a bargain as much as the next person - and relished the chance to bring back some gifts and show them off to my colleagues.

Here's what I found lurking in among the treasures at Ashley Heath on a sunny Sunday morning.

• Pet paw cleaner- £1

The first thing I bought was this pet paw cleaner- which I didn't know was actually a thing. It's essentially a silicone brush inside a portable jar, which once filled with soapy water, becomes the perfect washer for your pet's paws. 

As a proud dog owner, I thought this would be ideal for when my furry friend returns from a walk with muddy paws. The lady who sold it to me told me her dog was 'too much of a diva' to use it. So I thought why not give it a go on mine. 

Pet paw cleaner (Image: NQ)

• Elvis Presley lampshade- £1

One of my more unique purchases was this Elvis Presley lampshade. As soon as I saw it I just knew I had to have it, and I managed to knock the seller down from £2 to £1- what a bargain. I couldn't help but falling in love with this one.

Elvis Presley lampshade (Image: NQ)

• Quirky earring sets- £1 for both

I really loved the stall that these earrings came from. The seller ran a business called 'Through the Door', and had brought along a handful of her handmade products, including necklaces and hair accessories. The earring collection was incredible and were all priced at 50p a pair. I had to get a link to her website to see what else she had made. Visit it here.

Earrings from Through The Door (Image: NQ)

• Waterguns- £1 for four

I was most impressed with this bargain- four waterguns for just £1. They even came pre-filled with water. Temperatures are getting a bit cooler, but I'm sure I'll be able to crack these out next summer.

The waterguns (Image: NQ)

• Meerkat figure- 50p

This was another one of my stranger purchases- a meerkat figure. I thought the Daily Echo office could do with a mascot, and for just 50p, this was a must buy. The man I bought it from had a range of other figures and models for sale on his stall, but I guess this little fella looked particularly friendly. 

Meerkat figure (Image: NQ)

• Nigella Lawson cook book- 50p

Finally, I bought a Nigella Lawson's 'Nigella Express' cook book. I thought I could do with a few cooking lessons to stop me picking up the phone for a takeway. 130 recipes for just 50p- what a steal. 

Nigella Lawson cook book (Image: NQ)

Although some of the items may be a bit bonkers, and not everyone's cup of tea, I think I did a passable job for a fiver.