Staff at charity shop in Abbot Langley joined together yesterday, to help launch an unusual fundraising campaign encouraging women to “bag up their bras”.

The Hospice of St Francis, which cares for people with life-limiting illness across the county, is asking women of all ages to donate unwanted items of underwear.

The charity will be given £10 a bag of bras (approximately ten kilos), and the underwear will be sent for recycling in Africa.

The campaign, support by actress Lynda Bellingham, was launched at the charity’s shop in Abbots Langley High Street yesterday morning.

Mrs Bellingham, famed for removing her bra in stage show Calendar Girls, said: “Recent statistics show that on average women have four bras lurking their drawers that are too uncomfortable or the wrong size.

“It’s simple, give them to the hospice.”

Claire Morgans, shop manager stressed how important it is to support such a worthwhile cause.

She said: “This is an unusual, yet wonderful campaign to get behind.

“Giving up an unwanted bra is so easy and the cash raised will make such a difference.

“The hospice relies upon donations to continue – the work they do is incredible.”