'Chuggers' face ban in West End

Charity fundraisers are to be banned from Westminster streets as part of a clean-up of the West End.

The city council wants to stop the "threatening and annoying" collectors who stop pedestrians in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street.

The authority is lobbying the Government to implement the Charities Act 2006, which is not due to come into effect until 2009, as soon as possible.

The law will give councils power to ban "charity muggers", or "chuggers", from the streets.

A report by the council, Transport for London and the New West End Company, says: "The trend of charities employing companies who accost the public on the street to elicit support has become excessive.

"There will often be several teams operating along a single street at any one time and many people find these hard-sell tactics threatening and annoying."

Danny Chalkley, head of economic development at Westminster, said: "Chuggers are charitable by nature - that's a good thing - but they are irritating to pedestrians." The law will mean fundraisers must apply to councils for a licence to work on the streets.

Kensington and Chelsea councils are set to follow Westminster's example.