PEOPLE in Oxfordshire are being urged to be on their guard against a charity collection which is not, as it claims, helping the Third Word.

The county council's trading standards department issued the warning after leaflets appealing for donations of clothes, footwear and household items were found to be false.

Many of the collections are not being made by charities but by commercial firms who sell on the goods for a profit, said trading standards officer Ian Marriott.

He said the leaflets, distributed in Carterton, were the latest attempt to take advantage of people's goodwill.

Mr Marriott said: "The downside is some of the leaflets look like they are charity collections and use the word 'donate', which we are not happy about.

"It is probably removing items that would go to local registered charity shops and they will notice a drop in donations.

"If people have got stuff to get rid of they are better off taking it to their nearest charity shop, that way at least they know it is going somewhere legitimate."

There was no contact details on the leaflet passed on to us.

Anyone wishing to check whether companies are registered charities, can call the Charity Commission on 0870 3330123.