RECENTLY a plastic sack was delivered to our house asking for a donation of clothing etc. This was on behalf of The Salvation Army. I duly sorted out some items and put the sack outside ready for collection on the appointed day.

As it was not collected on the Monday I phoned the national number given to ask for a collection. The phone rang and rang and no one replied. I tried later and this time it was answered and when I said the bag had remained uncollected I was informed it would be collected the following day. I also explained that our house is not on the road but the collector would need to go up the drive to get to the door.

I was reluctant to place it by the roadside as it was also another collection day on the Wednesday, so might be removed by the wrong collector.

As the sack had been delivered by the charity to the door, I expected they would collect it from the door. I then learned that it is the postmen who deliver the sacks.

I happened to speak to another friend in the village who also had not had her bag collected. I also spoke to other people living in Westward Ho! and Hartland who again reported non collections by various charities.

Later I received a call from The national helpline of the Salvation Army who told me that they could not collect the sack and that I should take it down to the Salvation Army collection bin at Morrisons.

I have checked with the Post Office and was informed that they had been paid to deliver the sacks and that some people thought the postmen would also collect their sacks.

It seems that this delivery and collection of charity sacks has not been properly thought through. If these national charities really need and want our unwanted items they must get the collections better organised. What is the point of paying out money to the post office to deliver the sacks, then not actually collecting all the goodies that the householders donate.

I will not be filling anymore sacks that arrive in future, any of my items will go to local charities with shops where I can make a personal delivery.

MARILYN JOBSON-SCOTT,

Abbotsham,

Bideford.