OVER the years the desperate plight of people suffering at the hands of disasters touch the hearts of people across the south.

With unsurpassed generosity we have responded to appeals to help the victims of natural catastrophes in Third World countries around the globe.

We've dug deep to hand over cash and organised countless weird and wonderful sponsored events just to do our bit.

Now the people of Hampshire are the target of a slightly more unusual charity appeal to help the less-fortunate across Africa.

Hampshire Businesswoman of the Year Selaine Messem is spearheading a campaign to rid drawers and wardrobes of those They are being collected by Selaine's sports bra company LessBounce - and they are offering money-off coupons in return for the old bras as part of their amnesty.

"We are offering women £3 off their new sports bra if they send us their old one," said Selaine.

"We've got a big bag of old bras sitting in our office - and we are waiting until we have a tonne before we send them off for recycling."

The bras will be sent to a Bristol firm who recycle the material and send it out to Africa.

As a guide sports bras should be replaced after approximately three months wear or 30 to 40 washes - and Selaine is calling on all women to send her their worn out undergarments.

"You can send in your ordinary bras - but I won't be able to give a money off voucher for those," she said.

Selaine founded LessBounce when she was unable to find a good sports bra locally and decided to set up a company to enable women to buy the products they need.

Send your old bras to: LessBounce at The Old Bank, High Street, Netheravon, Salisbury SP4 9PQ.

For further details contact 08000 36 38 40.