Models in Croydon took to the catwalk in recycled clothes to raise awareness of worker exploitation in Asia.

Creative community group Aspara Arts held a recycled clothes fashion show at Croydon Youth Theatre, as well as workshops to teach youngsters how to customise old clothes.

They came up with the idea after hearing of the collapse at the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh in April, which killed over 1,000 people.

The group wanted to learn to recycle clothes so they can avoid buying new garments, often produced using cheap labour practices in Asia that put workers at risk.

Malti Patel, artistic director of Aspara Arts, said: "Young people thought it would be a good idea to buy less clothes, and learn to recycle existing clothes by being creative instead.

"They learned to appreciate how they do not need buy new outfits to keep up with fashion, and that they can be individual with their own creations using recycled outfits.”

Ria Patel, who took part in the catwalk said: "It was so much fun, adding things to various garments to make them different from anyone else."

The group funded the event, last week, using a £500 grant from the Jack Petchy Foundation.