CAN'T think what to do with the ghastly tie, those hideous socks that someone gave you for Christmas?

No, don't put them in the bin and feel guilty about it. The YMCA shop in Tavistock could use them in its Present Rescue project, a sort of charitable re-cycling initiative.

The YMCA says that ties, socks and aftershave are consistently the most unpopular presents. But jewellery, toys and kitchen equipment are also commonly rejects, and much else besides.

The North Street shop, trading from Barclay's Bank premises, may well be able to find a buyer for such unwanted gifts, according to the YMCA's Devon manager Christine Chatterton. 'We get all sorts of things donated and most of them are re-sellable. We've even had brand-new bicycles given,' she said.

Many of the presents are given by people who have been helped by the YMCA or by their relatives or friends, she said.

'A family which has had a teenager run away who has been helped by us may well bring us something after Christmas as a thank you.'

It is the first year that the Tavistock shop will be in the Christmas scheme, as it was opened only last spring. It will be taking over the role from the Okehampton shop, which was closed recently after three years when the old supermarket premises were sold to Peacock's.

'Most of our shops trade out of premises offered to us free,' said Christine Chatterton. 'This enables us to use most of what we raise within the charity.'

Eighty YMCA shops last year recycled almost 2,000 unwanted presents.