Clothes Aid deployed its own team to investigate the gangs

Clothes Aid collects second hand garments and sells them to raise money, mainly to help hospitals.

But staff are warning that gangs are either collecting the bags first, or organising their own fake collections.

The charity is urging members of the public to continue donating clothes, but to check leaflets more carefully to ensure they are genuine.

Clothes Aid collects money for four charities. Staff hand out leaflets requesting donations of clothes. They collect the items later and sell them on to Eastern Europe. The money is then donated.

Bogus

But it believes as much as 15% of donations are being stolen - about �200,000 over the last year.

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The company noticed the problem increase about 18 months ago. They began a surveillance programme and claim only a handful of people are behind the scam.

But recently the scam has become more complicated. The conmen have registered various companies and also distribute leaflets, without making clear that the money does not go to charity.

Head of campaigns, Michael Lomotey warns: "If doorstep collections dry up because of bogus collectors they will have succeeded in stealing the UK public's charitable spirit."