MARLOW Bottom and Little Marlow are knocking the socks off other villages in terms of donating clothes to charity to fund overseas development projects.

A recycling bin outside Marlow Bottom Fish and Chip Bar, in Brucewood Parade, receives more than six tonnes of donated clothes and shoes per year, which is sorted by the Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development charity (TRAID).

One outside Wyevale Garden Centre, in Pump Lane South, Little Marlow, collects more than three tonnes per year and is the charity's second biggest collect-ion anywhere in the country. The average is around one tonne at the charity's other sites in Manchester, the Midlands and the South East.

Husband and wife team Ilija and Savica Basaric have been running the fish and chip shop in Marlow Bottom for the last 17 years. Savica said: "We got the recycling bank a few years ago now. I knew it was successful but I had no idea it was so good. It's great that we give the most and that other people can benefit."

TRAID sells the best quality clothing back to the public to raise money and recycles the rest saving it from UK landfills. The money is used to finance community projects abroad to help some of the poorest people in the world and to improve the environment.

Bhavik Patel, TRAID recycling manager, said: "It's amazing how everyone rallies round in Marlow Bottom and Little Marlow. It's very encouraging and a great testimony to the generosity and community spirit in both of these villages.

"Yes, they are both affluent areas, but there are other affluent areas in the country that aren't doing as much. People here just seem to be very aware of recycling and very good at giving. It doesn't just help people abroad, it is also helping our environment and reducing our landfill waste here.

"We sincerely hope everyone keeps it up."

The TRAID recycling bins can be found at Marlow Bottom Fish and Chip Bar, in Brucewood Parade, Marlow Bottom, and Wyevale Garden Centre, Pump Lane South, Marlow Road, Little Marlow.