Recycling centre workers were left scratching their heads when a suit of armour - complete with sword - was brought in by a member of the public.

The life-sized heavy suit and accompanying weapon was handed over to stunned staff at Burnham Recycling Centre by an anonymous donor.

The suit has now been donated to the South Bucks Hospice re-use shop at High Heavens in High Wycombe and will be sold off to the highest bidder at a silent auction that ends this Sunday.

The reuse shop is run by the hospice in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council and FCC Environment and sells a range of items that have been brought to recycling centres in good enough condition - including bicycles, furniture and electrical goods.

All the proceeds from the sales go towards helping hospice patients.

Shop manager Gary Pritchard said: “It was dropped off at the recycling centre in Burnham and collected by a re-use driver, so I don’t know who handed it in, but we were very surprised when it came into the shop.”

Jackie Ward, acting chief executive of South Bucks Hospice, said they were used to receiving some wild and wonderful items but this was a huge surprise.

She said: “I mean it’s not going to fit on the bric-a-brac shelf is it!

"It is a fantastic gift for us and appears to be in good condition. We hope to get a good resale price to help our charity.

"This is a great example of how re-use works, we accept all kinds of items that would otherwise be thrown away.”

To bid for the suit of armour, email jagoda.parry@sbhospice.org.uk

Meanwhile, residents can declutter and drop items off at any of Buckinghamshire's nine household recycling centres.

Items of interest include bikes, furniture and electricals and lawnmowers, which are then resold at Aston Clinton and High Wycombe.