PLEASE, give me strength. How easy it is to influence people with a well-timed rant over non charity collections of clothes (Watch Out, News Shopper, November 9).

If you had been in the rag houses outside of Prague watching a civilised society buying our smelly, crumpled, discarded clothes, by the kilo, to clothe their children, you may be in a position to criticise.

Poverty in Europe is heartbreaking.

I don't care whether these firms are making money, they do at least employ people.

I hope they are making money, what exactly do you think charity shops run on?

Unpaid, sometimes bullied workers are being exploited by multi-million-pound charities, with supervisors using the company car, chasing up window displays, sales and vulnerable staff.

How much exactly goes in rent and tax on a high-street shop?

Most have credit-card facilities. Most dump bags of donated clothes each week, or sell them to the rag houses.

There's a surprise.

People should worry more about the fact Asda does a T-shirt for two pounds, and the charity shop sells a second hand one, to the naive, for three pounds. Exploitation.

Merry Christmas.

GEORGE SMITH
Orpington