Otley’s charity shops are facing a double recession whammy of fewer donations to sell to cash-strapped shoppers.

And, to make matters worse, the quality of donated goods has also fallen, because people are buying cheaper clothes and goods to start with or are selling their cast-offs rather than giving them to charity shops.

The shops are urgently appealing for people to keep giving as the recession continues to have an effect.

Fundraising shops across town say stock donations have fallen by as much as 30 per cent while the number of hard-up bargain hunters has soared.

Donations of money have also been down at outlets like Oxfam on Boroughgate, although staff say townspeople were quick to respond to the Haiti disaster appeal.

Disability charity Scope has seen donations to its Kirkgate shop drop by nearly a third in recent months and the quality of items being donated has dipped.

Area manager Gill Cookson said: “Many of our shops in the region continue to feel the pinch of the recession and have seen their donations noticeably decrease over the last few weeks.

“We’d urgently encourage the people of Otley to come out and support us, and bring their unwanted high-quality clothes directly to the shop.”

Oxfam shop manager Janet Harthen said the prolonged cold snap the region experienced in January had also had an impact.

The town’s Cancer Research UK shop, on Kirkgate, has actually been doing better than last year in terms of its takings, although joint shop manager Elaine Wakes admitted that she, too, had seen donations – and their quality – tail off.

But Mrs Wakes was keen to praise people for continuing to give during the tough economic conditions, and stressed that the shop welcomed all donations.

Scope, meanwhile, is on the lookout for volunteers – anyone interested can find out more by calling (01943) 467676.