PEOPLE have been warned about health and safety amid reports of 'skip divers' taking discarded flood-damaged cothes.

A spokesperson from a Monmouth store posted: "The clothes in the skip from Fatface are flood damaged and have not been washed or sanitised.

"This has been sat in tubs for three weeks, so will have all kinds of germs on them.

"You take these at your own risk and we are not responsible for any reaction you may get. Thank you."

One woman who saw people helping themselves replied: "I couldn’t believe some people were practically in the skip trying to get these clothes, and had bags and arm fulls of them.

"They are taking a huge risk... I also saw one who is always selling on Monmouth free ads, so be aware if any of it is from the shop that has put them in the skip...

"There is a reason they are in the skip, the store has been told to skip them – surely it’s not worth putting yourself and your family’s health at risk with mould-ridden covered in sewerage and bacteria clothes.

"Hot wash or not. my family’s health is more important than a free damaged jumper."

Another added: "I was gobsmacked when I drove down town. I mean I love their pjs but not enough to take out of a skip."

One contributor noted: "It’s terrible, there all there to get damaged stock that can give them serious health problems. Don’t people have common sense?"

But one woman said: "The world wastes too much! It's disgusting! So what, people are taking things from a skip and reusing them! It only ends up in a landfill!

"If somone with not much income can wear them for years? Instead of rotting in the ground!

"Oh no, it's got mud and water on them, omg. Only got to wash it, is it too much hard work?!

"Makes me so angry people judge others less unfortunate! Yeah, you can buy your fancy clothes for mega bucks. Some people can't even afford to go to the charity shop.

"Stop judging one another and help one another. Watch the Wombles!"

Another replied: "There is a lot of waste, but these clothes spent several weeks in sewage water. Can't really blame them for pointing that out...

"I'd be more concerned that people are taking this stuff to sell and just giving it a quick wash, with someone then buying it unknowingly."

The UK Government’s advice on dealing with fabrics caught in a flood, says: “Textile items such as clothing, bedding and toys should be washed on a 60°C cycle with detergent.”

Technically speaking, even if the skip is on public land, the contents still belong to the person who hired the skip until its removal.

However, things dumped for disposal are generally seen as 'abandoned' and taking them from a skip on public land is not as a rule judged illegal.

However, people skip diving on private land, such as a driveway, building site or commercial property, could be trespassing and liable to legal action.