BRITISH Heart Foundation chiefs are urging caution after collection bags with heart motifs were distributed to homes across Swanage.

Messages on these bags ask residents to donate unwanted clothing, blankets, shoes, toys, cosmetics and even mobile phones and laptops.

But, despite the heart motif, this scheme has nothing to do with the BHF.

Instead, the organisation behind these Swanage collection bags operates as a business and sells the donated goods for profit.

When a Daily Echo reporter contacted the helpline emblazoned across the collection bag, a man confirmed: “We are not a charity. We sell some of the items to cover the expenses of our employees. We work as a business, but what is left over is donated to charity.”

A flyer in the bag also asks residents to donate laptops and mobile phones in a bid to “reduce Scotland’s CO2 emissions”.

Jilly Gray, from the British Heart Foundation, said: “We urge people to be vigilant when making doorstep donations of second-hand goods to charity because they could be lining the pockets of third party organisations working for commercial gain.

“The best thing to do is to donate directly to your BHF shop,” said Jilly.

“Legitimate BHF collection vans display BHF logos and all operatives carry ID cards. To check if a legitimate collection is taking place in your area, please contact your local shop.”

Swanage estate agent Ian Lomax, who brought the issue to the Daily Echo’s attention, said: “It looked like a charity bag, but there was nothing on it saying one way or the other.

“We have an ageing population and some of them will be fooled into thinking this is a charity.”