Updated Saturday 5th January 2008
Clothes Collections Raise Concern

Who gets your old clothes?

A number of local residents have reported receiving cards through their front doors asking for clothes donations.

Organisations such a the "Childrens Welfare Foundation" and others have come under the spotlight recently with articles in The Guardian about their activities.

The Charity Commission has launched an investigation into the CWF after members of the public complained that they received leaflets from it requesting clothing donations but were unable to contact the charity. A spokeswoman for the regulator said: "Complainants have reported that the telephone numbers given are either not working or that when they get through people are unable to get clear information about collections."

Bogus clothing collections cost charities up to 3m a year in lost sales. Six key regulators have developed a public awareness campaign aimed at tackling the problem.

Local charity shops such as Help The Aged in Green Street and The Isobel Hospice in Railway Street are happy to accept donations of clothes.