Freezing weather has seen donations to the district’s charity shops plummet along with the temperatures.

Snow and ice have left many charity shops with almost empty rails as the Arctic conditions kept people indoors.

Warnings not to travel or go out unless it was essential have played a part in stocks dropping to an all-time low.

Veterinary charity PDSA, which has more than 170 high street stores, including those in Bradford and Shipley, reported a 28 per cent drop in the amount of bags being taken into stores compared to last December.

PDSA director of business services Andrew Holl said: “It’s not just the temperature that has plummeted – donations have dropped significantly too.

“While our stock collectors are still picking up PDSA charity bags where possible, the amount they’re getting in some areas has been disappointing.

“If the situation doesn’t improve soon, the financial implications could be very damaging.”

A volunteer at Shipley’s Age UK shop said she had definitely noticed a difference in donations coming through the door. Oxfam in Darley Street, Bradford, has also felt a blow.

“It’s not unusual for donations to drop a little at Christmas because people are so busy but it’s been bad this year,” said one of the store’s workers.

“No-one has wanted to go out in the snow but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that now the thaw’s started, we’ll soon be back to normal.”

Sue Sharpe, manager at the Cancer Research UK shop in Bradford’s Ivegate, said her store had also been hit by the bitter winter.

She said: “Our donations have been very, very down.

“Collection donations have been a big problem. Our volunteer driver has a small car but just couldn’t risk going down any side streets.

“We’re just about to start our January sales, marking everything down, so we’re hoping people in town will come and give us support.

“We need them and we need their unwanted Christmas gifts to give our stocks a boost.”