Staff at a hairdressing salon in Hitchin have bra-vely come to the aid of a great cause – by asking customers to bin their bras for charity.

The team at Bancroft hair salon Talents have been asking their clientele to bin their bras to help prevent valuable textiles ending up in landfill – and giving the garments new lease of life in developing countries across Africa where they’re an expensive luxury.

Talents owner Tracie Franklin said: “The response we’ve had from the community in Hitchin has been phenomenal.

“We have had all ages from 16 to a lovely lady in her 90s donate their bras to the cause.

“Because we have a bra bin in the shop, it’s very discreet if anyone is slightly worried about being asked any questions when they donate, as it’s not the case at all.

“You simply just pop in and put a bag with your bras into the bin.

“It’s a great cause. I got involved two years ago when the Rotary Club of Hitchin Tilehouse started collecting for Against Breast Cancer and I’ve taken it over.

“This is something which affects so many people, and we are in this for the long haul in terms of collecting bras for the charity.

“Over the course of those two years we have collected more than a thousand bras – from sexy to support to post-operation – and we’d just like to thank everyone for their help, including our six fantastic staff here at Talents who have been so great in getting involved.

“Bin Your Bra is a great idea – when you make a deposit at our bra bank your ill-fitting or unwanted bras will be sent to Africa to start a new life.

“Ventures such as this keep many families in developing countries out of poverty.

“The charity receives £1 for every kilo of bras collected which will go helping them continue their work to find a breast cancer vaccine and look at ways to increase the survival of people who have the disease.”

Charity fundraising manager Emma McDonald added: “We’re pleased Tracie and her salon Talents are joining our bra recycling scheme that benefits women everywhere.

“The project provides an eye-catching pink bra bank in her shop on Bancroft where unwanted bras can be deposited. We’ve received very positive feedback from retailers adopting it.”

If you’re interested in knowing more about the charity’s work or would like to know how to set up a bra bank, visit www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk.