Romantic diners are being urged to give the brush-off to girls who come to their table illegally selling roses, allegedly for charity.

Chris Kelly, general manager of paediatric services at Southend Hospital, issued the warning after a seller approached her table in a seafront Chinese restaurant, claiming to be collecting for the hospital's baby unit.

Last year, the Charity Commission warned Mrs Kelly of the bogus set-ups, which could be raking in thousands of pounds a night by selling £2 stems.

Vic Smart, senior consumer protection officer for Southend Council, said anyone selling roses in the town's pubs and restaurants was breaking the law and would be prosecuted.

Last September the council ruled that the requisite house-to-house collection licences would only be issued to rose sellers who guaranteed 65 per cent of the takings would be donated to charity.

Mr Smart said: "If anyone is approached they should refuse to buy. They are being sold illegally."

Mrs Kelly was out for a meal when two girls came in with a minder to sell the roses.

She questioned one of the girls, who alleged the roses were being sold for the Southend baby unit.

"I told her I was the manager of that department and was not aware of anyone selling roses on our behalf. I have not received any money."

Mrs Kelly was shown a laminated sheet bearing the name Promilla Jerath, a registered charity from London Road, Westcliff.

But the charity insists it does not use rose sellers, nor collect for Southend Hospital, it said in a letter to Mrs Kelly. The charity was not available for comment.

John Larkins, investigations manager for the Charity Commission, said rose sellers were making hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

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