"UNAUTHORISED" clothes banks have mysteriously popped up in two south Essex car parks as residents have been warned not to use them.

Castle Point Council is warning residents not to place items in clothes banks which have been placed in School Lane car park in Benfleet and Oak Road car park on Canvey.

These bins have been placed with permission from the council. Residents are urged to use the correct green bins instead while the council is seeking to remove the new banks.

Bins - the unauthorised yellow bin (left) and the green bin residents are urged to use insteadBins - the unauthorised yellow clothing bank (left) and the green bin residents are urged to use instead (Image: Castle Point Council)

A council spokesman shared: "We have been made aware of unauthorised clothes banks (yellow bin pictured) that have been placed in our School Lane and Oak Road car parks.

"Please do not place any items in these bins and only use the correct bin (green) while we seek to remove these."