Council chiefs have vowed to crack down on thieves who have been depriving the needy by stealing clothes from recycling banks.

The thieves have targeted a series of textile banks across the borough, including Shotfield car park in Wallington, Sainsbury's car park in North Cheam and Kingsway Road car park in Cheam.

It is believed an organised gang are looting the outdoor bins to sell on the contents. The same gang is thought to be behind similar thefts in Weybridge, Surrey.

The clothes are meant to be sent on to developing countries to be reused or recycled into other products.

Items stolen include everything from shoes, shirts and trousers and bags to towels, sheets and tablecloths, with a single clothes bank containing a haul of more than £200.

Councillor Colin Hall, Sutton Council's executive member for environment and climate change, said: "It's a great shame that people are abusing the goodwill of others by callously taking items that could be sold to help those that really need it.

"The council provides this service to not only to cut down on waste and landfill but also to make a real difference. Those people are depriving the needy in order to line their own pockets and should be ashamed of themselves."

The council is blaming the thefts on a trebling in the price of old clothing over the last three years.

The thieves have also caused hundreds of pounds of damage to the banks.

The council has informed the police and the local safer neighbourhood teams who are set to put on extra patrols.

There are a total of 38 textile banks in Sutton, located at 34 sites across the borough.

If you see someone stealing clothes from Sutton's textile bins, report it by texting the word "Sutton" to 65101 and then following the link, emailing chris.carter@sutton.gov.uk or calling 020 8770 5070.