DROP-off points in unusual locations across Oxford led to a surge in donations for one national charity.

The British Heart Foundation, which has shops in Headington, Oxford city centre and Cowley, joined forces with Oxford’s two universities and Oxford City Council to make it easier for people to pass on unwanted goods.

Special areas and donation bins were set up across the city including community centres and local shops.

And 26 of Oxford University’s colleges took part, along with all the hall of residence sites at both Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities.

During the four-month long drive, 5,220 bags were collected for the cause.

British Heart Foundation retail director Mike Taylor said: “The success of the scheme in Oxford is an amazing example of what a difference can be made when organisations across a city work together to turn the tables on heart disease.

“Oxford is an area where we fund a huge amount of research and it’s brilliant to see Oxford City Council and both universities getting behind the British Heart Foundation and supporting our life-saving work.”

It is estimated each bag of donated clothes from the drive would raise about £8.20, making a net gain for the charity of over £42,000.

Mr Taylor said he hoped to run the scheme again next year, when the aim would be to top that figure.

He said: “We want to thank our partners and the community for getting involved and helping us to raise such a huge amount.”

Last week we reported how generous Oxfordshire residents helped the charity raise £294,000 in its county shops between 2012 and 2013.

That money paid for six heart nurses at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, 44 defibrillators and 76 research projects in Oxfordshire.

Maria Warner, from Oxford City Council’s recycling team, said the council was delighted the collaboration had been so successful, both in raising money for the charity’s work and diverting reusable items from landfill.

The campaign has now finished, but goods can be dropped off at the charity’s shops in Headington, Oxford, Didcot, Cowley, Bicester, Banbury and Abingdon.

Anyone who would like to create their own stock collection campaign should call Julie Paffett on 07990 561805 or email paffetj@bhf.org.uk