Venues in the Ashby and North West Leicestershire areas have been confirmed as school uniform swap shops - and families are being encouraged to provide donations.

Parents can now drop off usable branded and non-branded school items to locations across the district to help ease the financial burden school uniform has on households.

Each venue will have designated racks or baskets which will be clearly labelled to signpost parents to place donations. Venues are available in:

• Ashby
• Measham
• Ravenstone
• Moira

Items should be washed and in wearable condition.

Donations include blazers, jumpers, cardigans, polo shirts, dresses, shirts, blouses, skirts, trousers, shorts, trainers, P.E equipment and book bags.

The initiative will run until August 28 and a full list of venues, where to take badged items and opening times can be found in each venue and at www.nwleics.gov.uk/uniformswap

Councillor Michael Wyatt, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at NWLDC, said: "This is a great initiative to support families facing the financial burden of paying out for school uniform.

"We've tried to make it as simple as possible by making sure badged uniform is sent to the venues closest to each school – a list of these venues can be found on our website, so people know where to go.

"If you've got usable items that you no longer need, please come along, donate and help another family instead."