PILES of charity donations are going to waste because people are ignoring pleas not to dump them outside charity shops.

In the latest incident of flytipping half a dozen bags of clothing were left at the RSPCA shop in Havelock Street even though it has been shut for weeks due to the pandemic.

Richard Clowes, chief executive of Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre which runs the shop said: “It’s not just our shop it’s happening to lots of them around Swindon and the country.

"Unfortunately, there are two sorts of donors, one being people who want to give us items to sell, and then there are other people who are leaving them there because we’re closer than the tip.

“They know that we’re closed and no one is manning the shop, there’s no way we can sell things that have been left outside in the rain. We’re having to contact the council to report it as flytipping.”

He said homeless people were seeing the bags and having a look to see if there was anything worth taking, which meant the mess spread even further.

“It’s irritating having to get it cleared up every time it happens. We’re really grateful for the donations we get, we never turn anything away, good or bad, but we’re just not open right now.

“People should consider their actions, leaving stock out at the back of our shop, what do you think is going to happen to it?

He said: " I don’t want to seem ungrateful or upset anyone who genuinely wanted to donate something, but the reality is that it’s going to waste, we can’t sell it.”

Even notices on shopfronts have failed to deter people. During lockdown in November last year, it was reported in the Adver that donations were piled up outside the Prospect Hospice shop in Commercial Road. It happened again in February and a waste firm had to be called in to clear it.

The RSPCA shop has had to report the issue at least three times to Swindon Borough Council in the last year.

Non-essential shops are set to reopen from April 12 when restrictions are due to ease, this will make it possible for donations to be made at charity shops.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “If bags of clothes and items are being left outside a closed shop, they will be classed as fly tipping and be taken away and disposed of.

“This will see the charity lose out on much needed funds that could help those most in need. As charity shops are closed until April 12 any donations should be kept at home until stores reopen.”