Staff at a charity shop have been “staggered” by the interest in a costume worn 40 years ago by TV star Anthony Head.

It was found on Monday “poking out of a bag” at a branch of Oxfam in Norwich, where volunteers first thought it was a maxi dress from the 1970s.

But a label revealed it was a robe worn by Head – who was in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little Britain – in a National Theatre production of Yonadab, a play set in ancient Israel.

“It was such a particular play and production at a certain time, and we have not had anything quite like that before,” said deputy store manager Emily Paxton.