A SET of false teeth, a full sized skeleton and a crocodile’s head that was an ashtray in disguise are just some of the weird and wonderful donations given to Barnardo’s shops after Christmas.

The children’s charity, which has 21 shops across the North-East, has been given an amazing mixture of stuffed animals and false body parts including false legs.

Other peculiar donations include a stuffed stag’s head, three used lavatory brushes, dentures, a full-sized suit of armour and a ten-man canoe.

North-East area business manager, Jo Strachan, said: “While toilet brushes and sets of false teeth are not what we have in mind when asking for unwanted Christmas gifts, we accept that people are giving to us for the right reason.

“However, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure and something one person would never buy in a million years could be exactly what someone else has been searching for.

“We are always in need of good quality donations at our Barnardo’s shops in the North-East after Christmas and all proceeds from the stores go towards helping turn around the lives of thousands of children and young people.”

It is estimated that over £2.4 billion worth of unwanted presents were given in 2012, with a third of these ending up gathering dust in the back of a cupboard or loft.

To help people decide what to donate, Barnardo’s have put together a list of its top five most wanted gifts.

These are clothing, accessories, gift sets and toiletries, home ware and toys.