Devon Air Ambulance has asked the public not to leave donations outside its charity shops when they are closed as they "immediately become unsaleable".

The charity said that it welcomed donations, but described the act of leaving them outside as "akin to leaving a bag of rubbish that the charity must then dispose of".

A spokesperson for Devon Air Ambulance said: "At this time of year, charity shops across Britain see an influx of donations.

"We have 19 charity shops across the county and welcome your donations which all help towards environmental sustainability and the cost of providing a vital emergency medical service to us all.

"It is vital that donations are NOT LEFT OUTSIDE closed charity shops, these immediately become unsaleable as boxes and bags are soiled by dogs, rummaged through by passers-by and damaged by inclement weather, not to mention becoming potential safety hazards blocking doorways and pavements."

Devon Air Ambulance's charity shops will reopen on Wednesday 4 January. You can find a full list of what can and cannot be donated on the charity's website here.