VETERANS have spoken at their disgust at reports of bogus doorstep collectors claiming to be raising money for former servicemen.

Households in the Yorkshire Dales received leaflets asking for unwanted clothes and bric-a-brac to be left outside for collection.

The leaflets say that the donations will help the nation’s former servicemen and women.

However, an investigation by The Northern Echo suggests the goods will not benefit veterans in any way.

The leaflets include the logo of Sunderland company Our Heroes Matter UK Ltd.

But the organisation last night denied any links to the collections, saying its name had been stolen and was being used without its permission.

The fraudsters behind the leaflets were last night condemned by former soldier Michael Castle, regional organiser for the Equality for Veterans Association.

He said: “Servicemen and women gave their lives and limbs for these people, and to try and profit from their misfortune is disgusting.”

Our Heroes Matter operations manager Paul Guthrie said the company had reported the collectors to police.

He said: “They are categorically nothing to do with us.”

Mr Guthrie said the company only operated in the Sunderland area and that although it did have a shop in St Thomas Street, in the city, selling second-hand goods, it did not collect door-to-door.

On its company website, Our Heroes Matter UK Ltd says it is a charity, but is not registered with the Charity Commission.

It has also faced criticism online for having a logo that it is claimed resembles the branding of the Help for Heroes charity.

In response, Mr Guthrie said the company had applied to be a registered charity and was a genuine organisation set up to help veterans. He denied the company’s logo resembled that of Help for Heroes.

Police said they are investigating, having received several reports about the leaflet.

A spokesman said: “We advise people to be vigilant and pass on details of any suspicious activity to the police or Crimestoppers.”

Last week, a criminal gang, led by Natalie Hornby, 39, of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, was jailed for stealing tens of thousands of pounds by posing as Help for Heroes charity collectors.

Anyone with information about the leaflets is asked to call police on 0845-60-60-24-7.