A BOGUS charity collection has been pulling the wool over Swindon residents’ eyes.

Swindon Council’s trading standards department has warned people to be aware of collection bags being distributed by Do Not Delay.

Coun Colin Lovell, the cabinet member for a safer and stronger borough, said: “These collection bags are very similar to those used by many charity appeals but the word ‘charity’ does not appear on the leaflet and neither does a UK registered charity number.

“The small print goes on to say that the organisation donates a minimum of £5,000 to the project each month, but as the collecting organisation is a limited company and not a charity, it’s not clear if a proportion of what’s raised is retained as profit.”

Do Not Delay claims that any donated goods will be used to raise funds to help combat breast cancer. Information on the bags asks householders to sort any unwanted clothes and shoes for a roadside collection in aid of a breast cancer prevention programme.

The information goes on to say that Do Not Delay is an important project that provides breast cancer information and screenings for women in Lithuania. Leaflets attached to the bags list the company behind the collections as Intersecond Ltd, which claims to be appointed agents for Azzara, a Lithuanian organisation behind the Do Not Delay project.

Phil Thomas, the head of regulatory services at Swindon Council, said Intersecond Limited does not have the required licence for house-to- house collections, “Our advice is clear, if there is any doubt at all then people should not donate.

“There are plenty of worthy charities within the borough, some even have their own shops and would gladly take any unwanted clothes you have,” he said.

Call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for more information.