Charity shop workers left red-faced after mistaking sex toys for door knobs and displaying them in shop window

They are Britains unsung heroes who dedicate their time to volunteering in charity shops up and down the country.

But these prudish volunteers were left wanting the ground to swallow them up after mistaking a pair of sex toys for door knobs and displaying them in a shop window.  

Neatly laid out in front of a ceramic vase, a pair of his and hers silver butt plugs were brazenly displayed on a shelf at an RSPCA shop with a £2 price tag.

It was only when a more savvy customer entered the shop that they were established to be sex toys, leaving a shop assistant in her 70s blushing with embarrassment.

The customer pointed out to the elderly volunteer what the items really were and they were immediately withdrawn from sale.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: I was looking through the bric-a-brac when I spotted two items of an adult nature priced at £2.

I asked the shop assistant if she knew what they were, and she said she thought they were tiny little door knobs or knobs for a draw or a cabinet.

The sex toys were marked up as £2 after the shop workers mistakenly thought they were door knobs

A pair of his and hers silver butt plugs were brazenly displayed on a shelf at an RSPCA shop with a £2 price tag. (File image of RSPCA charity shop).

I explained what they actually were, not without blushing bright red, and that it would be a good idea to put on rubber gloves and put them straight in the bin, which she did.

Her colleague, who was quite a bit younger, came out of the staff room, saw the items, and shouted, Oh my god! which made us all laugh.

I suppose if it raises awareness of the need to educate volunteers in these shops then it has done some good.

The RSPCA shop was in an undisclosed North Yorkshire village.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: Were glad this good faith mistake has given people a little laugh and hope this goes to show there are some brilliant bargains - and unexpected surprises - to be found in charity shops.

Were enormously grateful to everyone who supports RSPCA charity shops by shopping, donating or giving up their time volunteering.

It all helps to make a huge difference to help animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. Even if we do occasionally find some slightly unusual delights among the items we receive.