Bradford Council has deployed its legal experts to examine ways of tackling the “problem” of charity street canvassers.

Strong concerns have been expressed by the public about the number of charity street collectors – known as chuggers – accosting people on the district’s streets, and the pushy tactics adopted by some of them.

One of the most outspoken critics is Bradford entrepreneur Carl Hopkins, who said people were having to “slalom” their way down high streets to avoid being “pursued and cornered” by what he referred to as “charity gangs”.

But one charity, Shelter, hit back, saying that “face-to-face” fundraising generates half of its voluntary income.

Today, the Council said charity street canvassers were a particular problem in Shipley and revealed that its legal team was looking to take action.

Bradford Council’s city centre operations manager Bob Parker said: “We recognise that charity street canvassers can be a problem, but we receive only a few complaints a year in the city centre.

“They have proved to be a particular problem in Shipley and the town centre manager, businesses and the Council’s legal section is looking to enforce a bylaw that covers the town centre."

  • Read more on this story - and Carl Hopkins's opinions - in today's Telegraph & Argus