Homeless charity reveals weirdest gifts, including dolls' heads and bondage kits

Shelter Scotland revealed how someone in Edinburgh handed in 40 life-sized blue plastic pigeons, while a donor in Glasgow handed in a bag of loose teeth with the roots still attached.

A china doll with a lock of human hair glued under its clothes was also donated in the Capital – and a vintage Rolex watch valued at more than £7000 was found in a black bin bag containing bric-a-brac

Among the creepy gifts to the charity was a bag containing dozens of severed doll’s heads with all of the eye lids glued shut or painted black, and a full bag of 30 pairs of dirty underwear, both donated in Glasgow.

Wacky donations made elsewhere in the country included a caravan that was given to the charity in Dundee.

A full dominatrix set – with “only one previous owner” – was donated to a shop in Glasgow, while another handed in to a shop in Paisley came equipped with several masks, nipple clamps, whips and handcuffs.

But when a pair of freshly honed Samurai swords was donated to the charity’s shop in Paisley, the manager phoned the police, who collected the items as part of a knife amnesty.

Other strange items handed in by members of the public included a pair of used dentures, complete with an open tube of Fixodent gel.

Meanwhile, another parcel contained one woman’s engagement ring, wedding photo album and divorce certificate.

Alison Watson, deputy director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Our supporters have donated some wonderful items over the years that have raised funds for our vital work.

“There are times, however, when we open the donations sacks and are left flabbergasted by what we find.

“My personal favourite was the china doll as it had obviously been someone’s treasured possession before it was donated to us, as was the mummified cat.

“We welcome all donations, within reason, and some of the more interesting items are certainly conversation-starters with our customers.

“We’re sometimes pleasantly surprised by what some people actually buy.

“Whatever the donation, every penny we raise through our shops goes towards our fight to end homelessness and ensure that everyone in Scotland has a safe, secure and affordable place to call home.”

The charity, which runs a network of over 30 shops nationwide, has also received countless generous donations.

Some £21,000 worth of designer dresses were donated to its Dundee shop last month; while £5000 worth of men’s designer clothes were donated in Aberdeen in January.

Comedian Kevin Bridges also donated the suit he wore to his first gig at the SECC – complete with handwritten notes and one-liners hidden in the inside jacket pocket.

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