With the smell of freshly-brewed coffee circulating, comfy armchairs, shelves filled with new and old books and a computer in the corner, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a boutique bookshop.

However, the new bookshop and Internet cafe in Cowley Road, East Oxford, is in fact a new and pioneering charity shop.

Age Concern@183 opened earlier this month and is thought to be the first charity Internet cafe of its type in the country.

Manager David Adams said: "We wanted to do things a bit differently and primarily we decided we would open a bookshop, because we get a lot of books donated to our charity shop in St Clement's.

"Then we thought 'why not have an Internet cafe as well', so that's basically what we have done."

And as well as the books, armchairs, four computers - one for community use - and coffee and snacks, the new shop also acts as a space for local artists to exhibit their work - with 25 per cent of the proceeds of any pictures sold going to the charity.

Currently, the walls are adorned with work by two Banbury artists, Penny McVitie and Patsy Hughes.

Mr Adams said: "I think we're probably the first charity Internet cafe. I don't think anyone has done it before.

"It's quite smart and it's nicely decorated - it's not like your typical charity shop.

"We want to make it as comfortable and nice an atmosphere to be in as possible.

"We're not just serving normal coffee, either. You will be able to get cappuccino, espresso, latte - anything you would get in Costa or Starbucks."

One computer, at the front of the shop, was donated by BT under a scheme for community facilities and will be available to use free of charge for people who qualify.

If the idea is a success, Age Concern plans to open other branches using the shop as a template.