A CHARITY shop is appealing for people not to dump donations outside its door after neighbours complained about a deluge of flytipping.

Like all charity stores the Prospect Hospice branch in Commercial Road has had to shut down for a second time because of Covid lockdown restrictions.

A sign in the window clearly asks people not to leave donations outside but that hasn't stopped some offloading huge piles of unwanted clothes and toys in the doorway and on the pavement.

A member of staff at neighbouring delicatessen Dapaolo told the Adver: “Rough sleepers take it round the back and leave it as rubbish. People don’t care and it’s often done at night by people passing by as there are fewer people around since the lockdown.

“There was a sign on the door but people ignore it, they still carry on they don’t care. There should be a strict fine and cameras as it would stop it. Whose going to buy it like this? It could be infected and dirty.”

He said: “It happens quite often, they shouldn’t do these things. I called the council but I didn’t get a response. It’s not fair, last lockdown it was the same thing it just doesn’t look very nice. They should know the charity shops are closed.

Piles of rain-sodden donations scattered in front of the shop were cleaned up and carried off in a van earlier this week. But instead of helping the charity they are likely to end up as landfill.

Prospect Hospice communications manager Helen Owen said: “We know people take this time to have a clear out so want to donate to charity. Ordinarily, we would be around to take donations with open arms. Some good quality donations are thrown in the bin, we urge them to keep hold of it.

“When we can take donations by God are we going to need them, nothing has changed that. We don’t want people to leave it outside as it becomes a fly-tipping issue, we’re not there to keep an eye on it.

“You may want it to come to the hospice but unfortunately, it may end up in the bin," she said. "People have a good heart when they do it and I’m sure the best intentions, so that we can make some money from it. If they do want to help they should wait a few weeks.”

When the shop opens there will be booking slots for people to donate safely.