The manager of a charity shop in Bordon has thanked well-wishers for their helping hands after several bags of donated clothing were ransacked in the latest of a tiring series of events.

Clothes that were bagged up and ready for collection by the Barnardo’s shop in the Forest Centre were thrown around and piled against the back door.

Staff who found the mess on Friday morning have reported the incident to the police as it’s been happening on a near weekly basis for the last 18 months.

“This normally happens on a Sunday night but last week it was on Thursday,” said Ayrton Barrow, shop manager.

“They scattered old stock left out to be collected before the shop opened, and donations which had been left there overnight.

“I’m not sure the perpetrators take anything, they just pile it up against the wall. We then have to tidy it up rather than getting on with helping customers.”

The latest incident has had unexpected benefits as the community rallied after Mr Barrow posted a picture and comment on Facebook.

“Councillors Andy Tree and Adeel Shah contacted us to help, a member of the public bagged up all the clothes and the shop had never been busier.

“I’ve spoken to my manager who will organise more regular collections of old stock so that there is less left outside. I will also be chasing the owner of the land about putting the promised CCTV into the car park.”

Witnesses or anyone with information should call 101 quoting SD-21923-24-4444-ir