Ninety per cent of the vendors say they would otherwise have to beg

Research in the latest South West edition shows nine out of 10 suffer verbal abuse and some have been violently attacked.

Sellers in Bristol's Broadmead shopping centre will now wear more distinctive badges and also T-shirts bearing the message "Working Not Begging".

Registered pitches will be marked out with a Big Issue logo on the ground.

The survey has found that 91% of vendors have been targeted while selling the magazine - 64% being told to "get a job".

Teamed up

The magazine's SW director, Jeff Mitchell, said: "It is terrible that Big Issue vendors are treated as a street nuisance when they have chosen to earn money legitimately.

"They work for a living and we are working with vendors to try to ensure everyone understands that they are working not begging.

"The Big Issue is designed to offer an alternative to begging and petty crime and one solution to homelessness.

"Big Issue vendors deserve better support from the public."

The magazine has teamed up with the management of Broadmead and also Street Wise, the city's anti-begging initiative, for the awareness campaign.

John Hirst, Broadmead's manager, said: "We have been supporters of the work done by the Big Issue for a number of years and fully support this latest initiative.

"Many of the Big Issue sellers add value to the shopping experience and are well-known to our customers. This will also really help us to improve life for the public on the streets."