A charity shop has appealed to people to drop off donations during opening hours or ring for them to be collected after the latest incident in which bags of goods and clothes were taken from the doorstep.

The British Heart Foundation Shop in Northallerton High Street reported on Tuesday morning that a couple had been seen taking donated bags from the doorstep before it opened at about 8.45am, and walking off down the street with them.

A spokesperson said: "Unfortunately we have witnessed another couple taking donation bags from our door step this morning, we have pictures and have CCTV footage which will be sent to the police.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Donations have been taken from the doorstep of the Northallerton store

"We’d like to ask our donors that can’t get their donations into store during opening times, to give us a call so we can arrange for our driver to come to your home or place of work to collect them. It is so sad to say but it is increasingly unsafe to leave them on the door step.

"We are desperate for the donations and they are vital for our charity and for people suffering with heart conditions, dementia and diabetes. This is how we raise our money and it is desperately disappointing that these donations are being taken.

"We first started to see this last year, that is when we first noticed it, people often drop bags of donations off on their way to work and it seems some people are starting to take advantage of that."

The shop has been operating in Northallerton for more than 26 years, helping to raise the money which funds vital research carried out through the British Heart Foundation into cardiovascular disease which claims thousands of lives every year.

The charity says anyone wanting to donate items can drop them off at the shop any time between 9.30am and 5pm or call 01609 777010 to arrange a free collection.