A HAMPSHIRE charity is appealing for footwear donations to help provide its vital service.

The annual ‘Re-Use Ya Shoes!’ campaign from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance kicks off in September, collecting unwanted shoes across the county to help raise thousands of pounds.

They are then sold on through traders in other countries, or used for parts if they are in bad condition.

The charity is keen for schools to get involved, and is asking children to build towers of shoes in the playground and fill as many bags as possible.

The recycling of shoes, clothes and textiles is the second biggest source of income for the charity, and those who wish to sign up should do so by July 16.

Sherie Williams Ellen, charity manager, said: “Our Re-Use Ya Shoes campaign will be bigger and better than ever this year. The response that we had from schools last year was truly heartening and children seemed to really embrace the idea of re-cycling shoes to help save lives. We already have over thirty schools signed up across the county to participate this year, and more are signing up every day.”

Shoes will be collected from September 15 – 19. To sign up go to hiow-airambulance.org.uk.