More than half of people surveyed in Sutton say clothes that no longer fit them is a key reason for why they get given or tossed away.

At 58 percent, it's slightly higher than Croydon but lower than neighbouring Merton while Kingston ranks top at 73 percent.

The research comes as the charity TRAID campaigns to raise awareness of the “staggering” amount of clothes not being worn in Londoners’ wardrobes.

After speaking with 2,464 adults in the capital, a YouGov study found in Sutton that:

- 21 percent of residents throw their clothes in the bin,

- 16 percent of them buy their clothes at least monthly,

- 58 percent of people said their clothes not fitting them is the reason why they give or throw them away, and

- 42 percent of residents would be more likely to clear their wardrobes knowing more about the environmental benefits of passing clothes on

The clothes reuse charity says 23 percent of Londoners' clothes are unworn according to their research.

People own an average of 76 items of clothing, but 18 of them which are in their wardrobes are “never worn” – largely because they no longer fit – say TRAID.

That apparently equates to 123 million items – or 333,000 tonnes of CO2e – enough to power 50,000 homes for an entire year.

Andrea Speranza, campaign manager at TRAID, said: “London is one of the world’s greatest fashion capitals and its wardrobes are full of unworn clothes.

“Cheap, fast fashion is powering rising consumption and production, placing unsustainable demands on finite resources to produce clothes which are poorly-made, barely-worn and quickly replaced.

“Giving longer life to our clothes by passing them on avoids the purchase of new items reducing the carbon, water and waste footprints of our clothes.

“Given the chance, Londoners care and are ready to take action – and we are here to help them.”

In 2015, the United Nations' member states agreed to implement 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), with aims to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for people across the globe by 2030.

TRAID says nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of people they asked had never heard about SDGs.

But when told about how passing on unworn clothes could help sustainable consumption and production, 61 percent were in favour.

Meanwhile, 41 percent said they were more likely to have a wardrobe clear-out after reading about the potential environmental benefits.

Here are south London boroughs, ranked first to last, by the percentage of people who say the key reason they give or throw clothes away because they don’t fit:

1. Kingston (73)

2. Bexley (70)

3. Merton (68)

4. Southwark (66)

5. Lewisham (60)

6. Richmond (59)

7. Sutton (58)

8. Croydon (57)

9. Wandsworth (56)

10=. Lambeth (54)

11=. Bromley (54)

12=. Greenwich (54)