A NEW council policy of charging to collect people's bulky items has been blamed for a decrease in charity donations.

Blackburn with Darwen Council introduced a minimum charge of £10 to pick up large or cumbersome items from people's homes last month.

But Blackburn with Darwen Churches Action group, which runs two charity furniture stores, believes this has led to less second hand goods such as cookers and washing machines being made available to the needy.

The shops, at Unity House, Chapel Street, Blackburn, and Ellenshaw Works, Kay Street, Darwen, help up to 30 families and individuals per week, many in desperate need due to sickness, unemployment, homelessness or family breakdown.

The charity said the lack of white goods also endangered 23 trainees’ work placements on a 'New Deal' training initiative.

Alan Barnes, Blackburn with Darwen Churches Action trustees chairman, said: “This is particularly sad as we will take people's furniture, washing machines, cookers, etc. for free.

“They have only to ring us and we will send our van and volunteers to recycle the goods we receive.”

Fees under the new council scheme are based on a points system, with 50 ‘units’, an average of one to five items, costing £10, and more units from £25 to £75.

Peter Hunt, the council’s director of regeneration and environment, said the charge had been brought in due to budget pressures.

He said: "We have extended the work that we give to Churches Action by giving them all our collections on a Wednesday, not just white goods, and also by saving any white goods that we collect during the week for them."

Call Churches Action on 01254 680317 or 706420 If you have furniture that can be recycled.