20 million items are donated to Sue Ryder Care shops each year and they vary from the tried and tested to the down right bizarre. Items as diverse as a full suit of armour, shop mannequins and a full-sized loom have all been donated, and indeed sold by the charity in its 370 shops.

Other strange items include, some authentic Dutch clogs, an antique commode, a graduation cap and gown, grass seed, a bedpan, some shop mannequins and a set of false teeth.

All of these, except the teeth, were gratefully received and sold!

Sue Ryder Care was set up in 1953 and supports people with a wide range of disabilities and life threatening diseases, as well as their families, carers and friends both in this country and abroad. There are now just over 80 Sue Ryder Homes in 20 countries, 20 of them in the United Kingdom. The Care Centres are funded partly by Social Services and Health Authorities, and the rest is met by legacies, donations, fundraising and income from the 500 shops.

At present the charity is launching a 'Sign On The Line' campaign to let people know just how easy it is to help Sue Ryder Care raise additional funds just by signing a Gift Aid declaration form when donating goods to its shops.

60,000 people have already signed up as Gift Aid donors since the charity retailer became the first to launch the initiative last year - now it is urging everyone to clear out their closets. By signing a form and help it edge closer to its £1,000,000 EXTRA target.

Jayne Parker, business manager for Essex, said: "We are giving local people a million extra reasons to donate to Sue Ryder Care shops.

So far, the scheme has been embraced enthusiastically in the region and now we are taking it to a new level.

Just by signing the Gift Aid declaration form, people can help the charity boost the value of all donations by 28%. In practice it means that for a donated dress sold for £5, Sue Ryder Care could reclaim an additional £1.40.

The charity needs to raise in the region of £13m in voluntary income each year to continue to provide care to people living with conditions including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke and cancer.