Shoppers have been filling up a shopping centre’s donation box with Christmas gifts following fears it was being used as a litter bin.

A passer-by took a snap of the Christmas Charity Toy Donation Box at intu Watford over the weekend, after noticing it was being filled with rubbish rather than presents for underprivileged children.

However, a spokesperson for intu has since told The Observer that people are now posting toys into the box, which is located in the upper mall next to Lakeland.

The spokesperson previously said: “We’re really disappointed that a handful of shoppers chose to use the donation box as a litter bin over the weekend, prior to the appeal starting.

“The appeal is now open and we’ve already had some donations, and trust that this will encourage shoppers to just put gifts in the box.

“Hopefully they’ll see the adverts about the appeal and be encouraged to get involved by donating.”