ENFIELD residents are once more being conned into giving their old clothes to a bogus charitable organisation.

The con artists, who are posing as clothing collectors, have been distributing leaflets asking residents to donate their unwanted clothes to the people of Eastern Europe.

In the leaflet they claim that they will distribute the clothes to charity shops in Lithuania, Ukraine and Belorussia.

This, however, is not the case and it is believed that the collectors are selling the second-hand clothing for their own profit.

Just a few months ago Enfield Trading Standards had a group of bogus charity collectors prosecuted and fined for distributing misleading leaflets that claimed that they were giving the clothes to those in need, again in Eastern Europe.

Although this second wave of leaflets is similar it is not believed that the same people are responsible.

Bob Griffiths, group manager of investigations at Enfield Trading Standards Department, said: 'We had a couple of complaints just before Easter and we're investigating. The wording is virtually identical, but they are not the same people as last time.'

The Trading Standards department is advising the public to watch out for the false leaflets and are asking for help in finding the fraudsters.

'We would like the public to help us catch them,' said Mr Griffiths. 'We can't be out there waiting for these people. Where residents see them collecting and distributing leaflets they should make a note of car registation numbers and descriptions so we can trace these people.

'We prosecuted the last ones and we will consider similar action this time, but we have to identify who they are', he added.

If you have any information please contact Enfield Trading Standards hotline on 8379 8515