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Fly-tipped items dumped at charity shop's expense

Jackie Sparke A shop front at night-time with grey concrete flooring outside. Against the windows of the shop, piles of fly-tipping can be seen including suitcases, a lawnmower, teddies, car seats, wires and many black bin bags. Jackie Sparke
The shop's manager said fly-tipping is a health and safety hazard for her staff

Charity shop staff say they have seen a huge increase in fly-tipping after broken furniture, soiled clothes and dirty potties were dumped outside a site.

The manager of the Dogs Trust shop in Attleborough, Norfolk, said clearing the items dumped on the pavement - while the shop was closed - had cost them time and money.

Jackie Sparke said her "heart sank" every time she found items outside the site, but thanked the community for "rallying around".

She said: "We can't magically make it disappear... but the local community have offered to help us and take it to the dump."

Jackie Sparke Two sets of drawers, one wooden and one white and pink, have been left outside the front of a charity shop. A wooden crib, missing the bottom, has also been dumped. Jackie Sparke
Ms Sparke appreciated small but regular donations, so volunteers had time to process and sell them without being overwhelmed

Ms Sparke told BBC Radio Norfolk it was important donations were made while the shop was open, so volunteers could explain why some items could not be accepted.

"Things like car seats or helmets we take for legal and safety reasons, but we also just like to meet our donors, talk to them and find out why they are donating.

"No-one in this town wants to see piles of trash on the road, it impacts all of us. We need to keep the pavement clear for people to use."

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