Charity inundated with copies of the erotic bestseller

Fifty Shades of Grey has become a charity shop's most donated item.

Blue Cross branches report around 3,000 copies of the steamy novel are being handed in to shops across the country.

The animal charity said the books were their most commonly given item of 2017 and more are still arriving in 2018 and currently flying off the shelves.

Each of the 57 stores across the UK have received several sets of all copies, with some shops taking in one book or more every week.

The erotic romance novel series was written in 2011 by UK author E. L. James and has been the inspiration behind the film series, which has grossed more than $1.3 billion at box office.

Ann Penfold, retail manager for the charity, said: “We have seen common themes with donations of items that had been hugely popular at some stage then not so but never anything on this scale.

“We are grateful for donations of books, DVDs, good quality clothing and some of our shops also take in vintage furniture.

“Every penny we raise through the sale of unwanted items really does help us care for the thousands of homeless, abandoned, sick and injured pets we see every month.”