Nearly a quarter of Merton charities have fallen behind with their paperwork and risk alienating their donors as result, the Charity Commission has said.

Of the 232 charities in Merton required to submit account documents to the Commission in 2009, 24 per cent failed to do so in time, and more are expected to fall behind this financial year.

Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Charity Commission, said: “It’s not acceptable for charities to send their annual accounts and returns late - they are accountable not just to us but most importantly to their donors, to those whom they exist to help and to the wider public.

“As well as being a requirement, charities run the risk of damaging their own reputations and putting off potential donors if their financial affairs are not in order.”

For more information about managing your charity’s accounts log on to charitycommission.gov.uk