THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised for charity through an initiative where people are encouraged to donate their unused clothes.

Slimmers from Burnham on Crouch, Feering, Hatfield Peverel, Heybridge, Maldon, Mayland and Tiptree have raised more than £5,000 by donating their old clothes to Cancer Research UK.

A total of 200 bags of clothes, shoes, homeware and accessories were donated as part of the Slimming World Clothes Throw.

Slimmers who are now too thin to fit into their old clothes are encouraged to donate them to charity.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of how keeping a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer.

Each filled bag is worth about £25 to the charity and since 2013, the partnership between Cancer Research UK and the slimming organisation has generated more than £18 million.

Kay Driscoll, who runs groups in Burnham on Crouch and Mayland, said: “I can’t quite believe how many bags we managed to collect, I knew our members were amazing but I didn’t expect such an incredible level of effort - wow!

“Seeing members donate their too-big clothes is just the cherry on top for me as a consultant. What I find so special is seeing members transform before my eyes as they lose weight.

“Many go from shy, apprehensive individuals, who join with their confidence at rock bottom.

"They don’t believe they could ever lose the weight they dream of losing.

“At group, members learn to remove feelings of guilt around food.

“Members also make friends in group, they celebrate success together and they are there for one another through the more challenging times too.

“They shed the shackles of their former selves – including the clothes they’ll never fit in again.

“So many people don’t know how much of a difference losing weight can make to health – including reducing the risk of developing a range of problems including some types of cancer.

“Hopefully this campaign and our efforts for charity will help inspire more people to improve their health and change their lives by losing weight.”