CHARITIES are set for a cash bonanza on the back of record mobile phone sales at Christmas.

An estimated one million mobile phones have been bought this Christmas, which means the NSPCC and Crisis could be in for a late yuletide present worth up to £5million.

Sainsbury's stores has introduced a mobile phone recycling scheme, in partnership with Fonebak, so its customers can recycle their unwanted handsets and benefit two of the UK's leading charities.

People will be able to drop off handsets at stores in Darwen, Clitheroe, Burnley and Bamber Bridge.

Each reusable phone is worth £5 and each recyclable phone is worth 25p, amounting to a potential £5million being donated to charity.

Susie Davies, NSPCC corporate fundraiser, said: "It's staggering to think of the amount of money in old mobile phones sitting around in homes and offices that could be converted into donations worth millions of pounds.

"Any money raised for the NSPCC will go towards our Full Stop campaign to end cruelty to children."

Shaks Ghosh, Crisis chief executive, said: "The recycling scheme is such an easy way for people to make a significant contribution to charity.

"Money donated to Crisis will help us transform the lives of people coping with the impact of homelessness so they can fulfil their potential."

Customers are invited to simply place their old mobile phones in the freepost envelope provided in Sainsbury's, tick the charity they would like to benefit (either NSPCC or Crisis) and then post it.