UNWANTED clothes are being put to good use - and helping to save people's lives.

Three new recycling banks have been sited in York with proceeds from the sale of the textiles being donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

For every two large containers filled with clothes and shoes, enough cash will be generated to fund one helicopter flight.

The move is a partnership between the local council, Northallerton waste management company Yorwaste and Elland Tradehouse, in West Yorkshire.

Air Ambulance chief executive Martin Eede said: "Yorkshire needs and deserves the very best air ambulance service possible and this partnership has proved its worth in providing much-needed funds for the charity.

"The beauty of this partnership is that there are no costs for the charity, and therefore all the proceeds go directly towards saving lives across our region."

Louise Knapton, a spokesman for Tradehouse, said the network of recycling banks for the air ambulance had now risen to 72, with more potential sites waiting to be confirmed.