An elderly woman was fined £300 after leaving a charity donation bag outside her home.

Barbara Wheeler, 73, left a package of clothes outside her home in Tonbridge, Kent, for a charity to collect.

She then received a letter from the council threatening legal action and a fine of up to £1,000 for leaving the bag outside her door.

Her 84-year-old neighbour Margaret also left a pack of donations outside her home on January 29.

She too was sent a letter threatening a fine and legal action.

The two women were told they had to pay a fixed penalty notice of £300 within 14 days.

 Ms Wheeler: 'The council had gone mad.

'They are using ruthless methods.'

The women were sent a letter from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council which said 'depositing litter is a criminal offence'.

Ms Wheeler said her neighbour was frightened by a council officer who said he had a camera and told her anything she said could be used as evidence in court.

She said Margaret is now too scared to come to the door.

Ms Wheeler said she has now warned neighbours about leaving collection bags outside their doors and fears she will still have to pay the fine.

A council spokesman told BBC News that the matter had been taken up with its contractor who issued the letter.

The council said it understood the experience had been 'upsetting' for the residents.

They added: 'At this time, we have not had any direct contact from either of the ladies or anyone connected with them, however we have taken this matter up with our contractor who are now looking into it.'