Criticism has forced a Three Towns voluntary group which helps vulnerable people to disband.

Organisers of Saltcoats Swap Shop have had enough of people blasting them and have decided to call it a day, saying that they are “really sorry”.

Marcus Hazel-McGown, who started the Swap Shop with wife Anna, told the Herald: “It’s one of those things. My wife’s getting a lot of personal attacks over it and she’s decided enough’s enough.

“The volunteers have worked so hard – like Christmas Eve, we were all working until about 10pm. We ourselves have been homeless, we know what it’s like to go through testing times.”

Asked what the highlight of the Swap Shop has been, Marcus said: “Meeting new people. There’s so many kind souls out there.

“We’d like to thank the volunteers and everybody in the local community who have helped out or donated.”

The group posted on their Facebook page: “For the last four and a bit years Swap Shop has run, but of late the organisers are getting a lot of personal stress due to people saying that this is a con. There are so many people out there that we have helped. But causing people to suffer due to this is not something we envisioned. Every single post lately has been criticised at least once.

“We have removed posts for help when we have found out they are fraudulent and blocked those from contacting us again.

“So, the organisers have decided enough is enough and we’re out. It’s a shame really as people are now going to completely fall through the cracks.

“We have committed many hundreds of hours helping people in fact on Christmas Eve, we were still helping people at 10pm, when our own families things had not been sorted still. Easter was also very busy, and without the help of Auchenharvie school, who will vouch for the good work we have done in the past we would have been unable to manage to complete at all.

“So enough is finally enough. So, for anyone that we were trying to help right now we can’t. We’re really sorry.”