Helen Mirren - Dame Helen Mirren's Plea For Unwanted Bras

The Oscar-winning actress has teamed up with Oxfam to launch the Big Bra Hunt, which aims to collect one million brassieres by the end of April (12).

A survey found the average U.K. woman has several barely-worn items of lingerie in her underwear drawer, and Mirren wants women to gather their unwanted garments to help the charity's work in Senegal.

She says, "Before I heard about this campaign I had never thought to donate my bras to Oxfam. I'm sure many women have a number of bras stowed away left untouched for years.

"The Big Bra Hunt really highlights how every last item donated to Oxfam can be used in a truly unique way, making a real difference to people all around the world."

Brassieres are one of the most desirable items in West Africa because they are so complex to manufacture, and the donated items will help boost employment prospects for disadvantaged Senegalese women as Oxfam bosses recruit more staff to sell them.