TRADING standards officers are warning Farnworth residents to be wary of a firm which has leafleted the area asking for unwanted belongings.

The company claims to be making charitable contributions to families in eastern European countries.

However, trading standards officers say they have been unable to discover if any money is making its way to charitable causes.

The same company, called Gotham, had targeted homes in Wolverhampton and Staffordshire, but when investigations were made into the registered business number on the leaflet, the corresponding office address in London had no connection to the charity.

When trading standards officers and the police spoke to the drivers who were collecting the belongings, they claimed to have no idea who they were working for. They said they took the goods to a pick-up point in London where they were paid cash in hand.

A spokesman from Bolton Trading Standards said: "We have received one complaint about this company. Anyone wanting to make a donation to charity should do so to a well known organisation."

The company, called Gotham, is believed to have created an off-shoot business, called Lugira, which has genuine premises in London.

Peter Calvert, of Wolverhampton trading standards office, said: "As far as we were concerned, Gotham had disappeared and had been replaced by Lugira.

"Their leaflets are almost identical, but the new company claims to sell any unwanted clothes and make a contribution to Eastern European countries."