Everyone likes a bargain and it seems the residents of Highgate are no different.

Hundreds of people poured into the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution in South Grove to eagerly browse through numerous boxes of heavily discounted second-hand books, including valuable first editions, at its annual book fair.

The books are donated by members, which are then sold on cheaply by the institution to raise money for the organisation and to encourage more people through its doors.

The fair, held between 9am and 3pm last Saturday, attracted about 250 residents to come looking for a bargain, with most walking away with an armful of books.

Librarian Margaret Mackay, of Muswell Hill, said: “The books are donated by members when they are downsizing or clearing out their homes to make way for more books, and we get lots of special editions. It’s a lot of work and it is mostly run by volunteers, but it went really well.”