THEY are items most people would consign to the dustbin.

But some believe that mouldy bread, a false leg, an odd shoe or a three-year-old calendar are just perfect items to donate to charity shops.

Hospices across Bolton say they have received many weird and not-so-wonderful items from members of the public.

And staff at the hospice charity shops are now appealing for people to think before they donate.

St Ann's Hospice, in Little Hulton, is one of those inundated with unwanted tat - and staff at its charity shop in Walkden have compiled a list of the most unusual donations they have received.

Among them are a prosthetic leg, breast implants designed to fit into a bra, a teeth brace, house keys, broken clothes hangers and the 2002 calendar.

Bolton Hospice has also received bizarre donations, including an old police truncheon and false teeth.

Shop manager Anthony Lord said: "We are reliant on people's goodwill to donate quality items, but we would ask people just to think before handing them over.

"If it's broken or damaged, it's no good to us, and if you've tried to sell it at a car boot sale and no-one wants it, it's unlikely we'll be able to sell it either, so you might be better considering a recycle bin or your local tip."

Charity shops are now a favourite haunt of fashion conscious young people, hoping to pick up a designer bargain, or be able to customise clothes they have bought there.

Anthony said: "Some people are not aware of the quality of things charity shops sell now. We have very strict criteria on what we can sell, so it has to be high quality.

"We get many designer brands donated to our shops, many are not even worn and still have the price tags on them. Maybe the people who bought them feel guilty for not wearing them, so they feel better passing it on to a charity rather than selling it."

Other bizarre donations that did not make it into the hospice's top 10 include a frying pan with the remains of a cooked breakfast on it, a child's pram minus the wheels and a can of tinned food that was five years past its best before date.

Debra Graham, director of fundraising at Bolton Hospice, said: "We really want quality items, but we are grateful for the things people donate to us because it keeps us going and the shops bring in an income of between £7,000 and £8,000 per week.

"For every odd thing we are given, there is some excellent stuff. The more bizarre items do create a laugh for volunteers."

Here are ten of the most unusual donations to St Ann's Hospice:

One shoe

A week old loaf of bread

A stuffed pet bird

Human hair

A prosthetic leg

Bra padding

A brace for teeth

House keys

Broken clothes hangers

A 2002 calendar