It would be more of a crime to throw them away – that was the message from a boss of a charity which has been given seized counterfeit designer clothing which will be given to those in need.

Norfolk Trading Standards handed over the seized clothing to His Church charity, which will ensure the reprocessed goods can be distributed to people in need via other charities.

His Church is used by Trading Standards services across the country to help ensure seized goods go to a good home instead of having to be destroyed.

The charity yesterday collected the goods, which have been seized in the county over the last three years by Trading Standards officers in their work to crack down on the people who make money out of the illegal trade in fakes.

The organisation also donated goods that it has already processed to the Salvation Army-run Pottergate ARC drop-in day centre in Norwich so the items can be given to homeless and vulnerable people who use their service on a daily basis.

Nicola Darkin, Pottergate Arc service manager, said: 'Rough sleepers, homeless and vulnerable people over the age of 18 use our centre for food, shelter and a hot shower.

'Sleeping bags and clothing are always in demand.' Richard Humphrey, senior co-ordinator of His Church, who said it would be 'more of a crime to throw it away', added: 'A big part of our work is to de-badge clothes and rebrand them with our logo which will enable Norfolk Trading Standards teams to meet the duty of care to the trademark holder that they are responsible for when they put back these items into circulation rather than destroying them.'

Dan Roper, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for community protection, said: 'These goods were seized by our officers during criminal investigations into activities that were specifically designed to make an illegal profit for the individuals who tried to sell them and the organised criminals behind them.'