A Southampton animal rescue may be the victim of some sort of prank after being inundated with parcels full of rubbish.

Staff at Second Chance Animal Rescue in Mansbridge have told of their confusion after receiving more than 100 parcels containing nothing but empty bottles or discarded crisp packets.

Nine such parcels were delivered this weekend alone, prompting rescue co-ordinator Rose Milne to speak out over the bizarre antic.

The parcels first started turning up at the Mansbridge Road site around nine months ago, with staff assuming they were sent by mistake.

Rose, 72, said: “First of all we took no notice thinking we were the butt of some joke or prank.

“The first 30 or so we kept throwing away, but we decided to start collecting them to illustrate just how many we have received.

“We have now received well over 100 or so parcels that are filled with nothing but rubbish.

“I must say we are getting really sick of it. I am running out of room to keep them.”

Rose said empty plastic bottles were the most common item to be found inside the parcels – which have come in all different shapes and sizes.

Bubble wrap, screwed up paper, empty crisp packets, tissue paper and food wrappers have also been regularly turning up in the sanctuary’s post box.

Daily Echo: The sanctuary has seen more than 100 parcels filled with rubbishThe sanctuary has seen more than 100 parcels filled with rubbish (Image: NQ)

Daily Echo: Empty bottles and crisp packets are among the items inside the mystery parcels Empty bottles and crisp packets are among the items inside the mystery parcels (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “Normally we seem to get about one or two of these parcels every week, but this weekend they came flooding through the post, and we had nine of them delivered.

“It is just ridiculous. We have reported the bizarre post to the police and notified the post office three times.

“We also contacted the Trading Standards Office and the Fraud Squad but nobody seems to have any answers.

“It will be costing somebody a lot of money for packaging and stamps so I really don’t know why they would do it.

“Someone is losing money somewhere – there is no name or return address so it really is a real mystery to me."

Royal Mail says it is not aware of the contents of its parcels and it's only responsible for delivery.

Trading Standards has been contacted for comment.

Hampshire police were also contacted but were unable to respond.