WOMEN are being encouraged to donate their old and unwanted bras to a bar’s new ‘Bra Bank’.

But rather than making a boob of themselves they will be helping to support a pair of charities.

Huddersfield bar The Cotton Factory launched a Bra Bank in a bid to help women in Africa.

Most of the bras will go to remote villages in Kenya and Zimbabwe through charity Villages of Hope which provides food, education and healthcare to needy communities.

The under garments will be donated to women to give them the physical support they need while working their land and looking after their children.

Donated bras not suitable for export will be recycled by BCR Textiles who pay £1 per kilo. The money will be donated to the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Cotton Factory manager Terry Taylor said: “Bra Bank helps those in need to gain physical support and comfort with the help of a pre-loved bra.

“We hope all our customers will have a good spring clear out and donate their unwanted bras to this great cause.”

Second-hand bras are the single most desirable item of clothing in Africa as they are difficult to manufacture and British ones are particularly renowned for their high quality.

Huddersfield is already the centre of bra recycling through the Oxfam’s Wastesaver site at Hillhouse.

The depot normally receives 200kg – or 3,400 bras a week which are sorted and either sold or recycled.

Overall, the site receives 120 tonnes of clothes every week that cannot be sold in Oxfam shops.

The best items are filtered out and sold on Oxfam’s eBay site and the rest are shipped abroad to wholesalers and recycling traders.

Bras being donated at The Cotton Factory can be any style but not too sexy or see through.

The charity is accepting any size and is especially keen for very large or very small sizes.

Maternity or nursing bras are also accepted. Please wash all bras before donating them and check the straps and clasps are in working order and there are no rips or tears.

Donations should be dropped off at the Cotton Factory on 50 King Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2QT.

Bras can also be donated in the post at: Bra Bank, c/o Flamingo, The Old Bake House, Downs Park East, Westbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7QD. Web: www.bracollect.co.uk for more details.