A KEIGHLEY charity which helps people on low incomes needing household items has urged people not to dump unwanted items at its premises outside of opening hours.

Managers of the Keighley Furniture Project made the appeal after two men left a two-piece corner suite outside the charity's base in Springfield Mill, Oakworth Road last Friday evening. (July 24)

The pair were captured on CCTV carefully unloading the sofas from a car then driving off.

Project manager Ian Scott said that by the time a caretaker happened to spot the furniture the following day and hauled it into cover it was already wet through.

He said: "It does happen from time to time. People come and leave stuff outside when we're closed.

"The problem is that once furniture like this has become soaked it's no longer usable because even once it's dried it smells bad.

"This latest suite we had left outside is in our loading bay at the moment. It's drenched.

"Of course we don't want to discourage people from donating things, we really do welcome donations.

"We can come and collect stuff from people's houses instead, or they can bring it to us when we're open, which is from 8.30am to 3.15pm Monday to Friday."

Mr Scott said that leaving items outside the charity which then become unusable means the group has to spend precious time and effort having the spoilt goods disposed of properly.