IF you want a good laugh, you could do worse than take a look at the latest offering from the ‘second hand clothes collected from your home’ industry which seems to have mushroomed recently – Bernhardos.

Most of us are happy to give to charity doorstep collections if we know they are legit – especially when it’s something to do with animals, the elderly or cancer research.

The trouble is that quite a few of these operations seem to be, if not illegal, then sailing rather close to the wind and in danger of being mistaken for charitable organisations, when they are simply companies. Some are more plausible than others. Bernhados (or sparco.ltd) is doing the rounds in Pokesdown, leaving bags for filling up with clothes, toys and ‘little pieces of jewels’.

It’s in aid of St Pranciskus Asyzietis parish in northwestern Lithuania - a place that may not be especially high on your list of priorities right now. The company’s website says it is not connected to Barnados (which no doubt keeps it on the right side of the law) but the name is not a million miles away.

The blurb on the packet is in poor English and informs the recipient that “minimum 50 pounds from each sold tone of your contributed clothes will be transfored for Bernhardos.” Best advice is steer well clear from anything like this. And remember, they’re are not all as blatantly ridiculous as the patrons of St Francis Assisi of Lithuania.