A volunteer trying to save a Colchester charity money has led to a recall of all electrical products.

The helper at the town's Oxfam shop added insulating paint to points of plugs on goods before they went on sale in the belief he was making them safer.

And, thinking he was saving the charity money, he also ignored instructions to fit electrical items with new plugs.

All the products are now being recalled as a precautionary measure.

Customers who have bought standard household electrical products since November 1998 -- including hairdryers, food mixers and music centres -- from the shop in St John's Street are being asked to switch them off immediately and return them.

Oxfam area manager Neil Hunter said: "It seems he thought he was saving the charity money."

Mr Hunter said the discrepancies were discovered by trading standards with whom the charity works closely.

"The volunteer when questioned said he had only being doing this for about a month or two but we decided to go back to when he started with us in November 1998.

"It looks horrific. He says it was only a month or two ago he decided to do what he did and I have no reason to doubt it.

"But we have to act responsibly and safeguard our reputation with the public so decided to recall products from the time he started with us.

"There must be hundreds of items and this is a big problem for us but we must safeguard the public. We will do everything in our power to get the recall message across."

Mr Hunter added: "I will be talking with the volunteer, who has offered to stand down, again. He is mortified, he is devastated."

Records of electrical goods have been kept and customers will be refunded and can call the Oxfam helpline number on 0845 3000 311.

Against guidelines - these electrical appliances contravene health and safety guidelines

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