Callous scavengers who blighted community donation points have been condemned by a town’s civic leader.

Piles of plastic bags with gifts for Oxfam have been rifled, discarded and left to rot near a key Oldham town centre Sainsbury’s store.

And now Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, who is heading a multi-million-pound anti-litter campaign to clean up the borough, said: “I, like most Oldhamers, am sick of careless people blighting our streets and neighbourhoods.

“Officers have spoken to Sainsbury’s who have confirmed to us that they’ve instructed their contractor to come and clean up this mess.

“We’ll also pick this up with Oxfam to see if there’s anything more that can be done to prevent people from breaking into these lockers, creating a mess and causing all of these donated items to go to waste.”

A local businessman first raised the alarm over the dumping after he called at the site to drop off books at the Oxfam donation bins.

He said: “I was faced with an appalling sight of donated clothes and shoes spread across the ground soaking wet and now bound for landfill.

“Some local gutter rats have found a way of getting into the donation boxes and have ripped open the plastic bags and stolen the high-value items, leaving the remaining items to rot.

“This is not the first time I have seen this here and I suspect this happens as the donation bins are located in a secluded part of the car park.

“I would suggest kind-hearted folk of Oldham stop using the donation bins, but take them to a charity shop where they know their donation will be put to good use rather than being thrown away.”

An Oxfam spokesperson said: “We are currently investigating the situation highlighted at the Oldham donation bank.

“Donation banks are an important and valued source of donations, which help raise money to support Oxfam’s work fighting poverty around the world.

“Anyone who sees suspicious behaviour around donation banks should report it to the police.

“People can also take their donations to their nearest Oxfam shop or, they can request a free postal donations bag for clothing by visiting https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/donate-clothes."

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the issue in the recycling area at our Oldham store and have organised additional collections to be made to clear the site.

"We’ll also ask our partner to empty their banks more frequently. 

"We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused.”