POLICE have warned the public that people collecting clothes "for the needy" are doing it for profit.

Detective constable John Beresford of Consett police has issued the warning after becoming concerned that people in the Blackhill area of Consett thought they were donating to charity.

In fact, the Commercial Clothing Company, which is in Boston in Lincolnshire, sell the clothes, mainly in Eastern Europe.

Collectors pick up bags of clothing from households after issuing leaflets entitled Clothing the Needy - Clothing Those Less Fortunate Than Ourselves.

It reads: "A bag of unwanted clothing goes a long, long way.

"You are helping us to provide clothing for people not only in the UK through our distribution centre, also the lower grade clothing and shoes are shipped overseas to help clothe those less fortunate at affordable prices."

Mr Beresford stressed the clothing company was legal, but said he was concerned the public may have the impression that the company was a charity.

In an official statement he said: "If people think they are giving their clothes for charity, they are not."

A spokesman for the company said it was clear on the leaflets that the collections were for commercial use.