Charity bag warning

Residents are being warned not to leave out clothes for collection for a company claiming to be helping the air ambulance.

The collection is due to take place in Ollerton and Boughton today.

Mrs Jan Miggels, of Fairweather Close, Boughton, said a leaflet was delivered to her home from Air Ambulance Support asking for clothes donations.

She was suspicious and contacted Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, which confirmed the collection was not organised by them.

Mrs Miggels planned to donate some of her late husband’s clothes. She said: “I would have been gutted if I had gone along with it.”

Mrs Miggels hoped to make as many people aware as possible before the collection.

The chief executive of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, Mr Peter Aldrick, confirmed the leaflets had no connection to the charity.

He said: “These people are not from a registered charity. It appears to be a profit-making company trading on the good name of the air ambulance network and diverting the generous support provided by the public for its own benefit.”

He said it had been reported to the police, Trading Standards and the Charity Commission.

Genuine air ambulance collection bags are clearly marked.

The Advertiser was unable to contact Air Ambulance Support.