Essex Air Ambulance warns households over leaflet scam

Essex Air Ambulance say they have not received any money from the firm

An Essex charity has warned households to be aware of a company claiming to be collecting clothes on their behalf.

According to the Essex Air Ambulance leaflets from an Oxfordshire based firm are being posted through doors appealing for unwanted textiles.

However the charity say they had not received any donations from the company, nor had any other ambulances.

Charity spokesman Cliff Gale told BBC Essex people have already been in touch, questioning the leaflets.

"We received many complaints both by phone and by writing about these leaflets," said the Director of Operations.

"The people of Essex are enormously generous, and when they realise that perhaps they are giving their textiles to a commercial company, they feel very cross.

"So, I just say beware that we do no participate in any operation like this. We do not go around houses cold calling for money," he added.

Trading Standards are investigating a company which claims to be collecting clothes on behalf of the Essex Air Ambulance.

They advise residents to be wary about leaflets put through their doors, and to make sure they are working for who they say they are.