CHARITY workers have spoken of their shock after personal paperwork containing their names, addresses and mobile numbers were found dumped in an alleyway in Blackburn.

Bosses at Barnardo's, which has a shop in Morrison's, say they are investigating after the Lancashire Telegraph discovered a number of their volunteer registration forms strewn across the underpass, off Railway Road.

College prospectuses were also found littering the lane underneath Newspaper House, behind Bootstrap's offices.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Silver gas canisters - used to ingest nitrous oxide or laughing gas - have also been left there.

Council bosses say they are pressing for the underpass, also used by the homeless to shelter, to be gated to prevent similar tipping incidents.

One of the volunteers, whose details were left in the alley, who asked not to be named, said: "Anyone could have got hold of these forms. It's a bit of a shock."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Cllr Jim Smith, executive member for environment, said: "This smacks of incompetence - Barnado's should have arrangements in place for sensitive information such as this.

"Paperwork like this should be shredded and left in the appropriate bags. I'm surprised that they have been foolish enough to leave this kind of information just lying around."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Cllr Phil Riley, executive member for regeneration, added: "We are conscious of issues with this underpass and fly-tipping and waste down there. Now the Newspaper House flats are in occupation we are looking at ways of working with the new owners to perhaps gate that underpass and keep it much cleaner."

Graham Jones, Bootstrap business manager, said while some of the paperwork found in the alley originated from Bootstrap it had been placed in an industrial waste bin originally.

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He added: "We also pay someone to keep our end of the alley clear and have asked them to come and remove 'offending' rubbish, which should have been in the bin."

A Barnardo’s Retail spokesman said: “Barnardo’s has strict data protection procedures in place in line with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), including systems to dispose of confidential waste paper.

"All paid staff have been given training to ensure these processes are adhered to. We are urgently investigating the circumstances surrounding this matter."