Chris Brown, owner of Scarborough's Coastal Security, says he has sold a record number of safes over the past two months.

He believes the economic downturn has influenced more people to keep their money safe at home, rather than invest it in a bank.

He said: "We've sold more safes in the last couple of months than in the nine before that. My counter is normally completely full of a display of safes but it's only half full now. I just haven't got enough – they've all been bought. People buying safes don't really discuss why they're doing it, but it can't be a coincidence that its happening when the banking system's in crisis."

Commercial secondhand shops are also feeling the benefit.

Sheila Owen, who work's in Charlie's Secondhand shop on Victoria Road, said: "Things are definitely picking up a bit and we're certainly seeing more people coming in to sell stuff."

Charities also seem to be cashing in on the credit crunch.

Jo Major, who manages the St Catherine's Hospice furniture shop on North Marine Road, said: "There definitely seems to be an upturn in sales recently – we're doing very well at the moment. Things like three-piece suites are going very well.

"Some of the items we get are of exceptionally high quality – it's amazing what people donate. When people have to tighten their belts they've just got to look for alternative ways to save money."

However Lisa Dolby, who works in the Scarborough Link shop which raises money for several local charities, sounded a note of caution. "We're really struggling for donations," she said.

"They really seem to have dropped off. I think people are holding on to things a little bit longer before replacing them.

"I don't know if the financial crisis will actually work in our favour.

"People who shop in charity shops generally don't have a lot of money to spend and they might stop coming in altogether.

"We may pick up customers who've never been in before, but I think we'll lose custom as well."