Officers will carry yellow cards to hand out to anyone seen begging in an initiative already being piloted in Cheltenham.

The cards offer advice on where to stay - the Vaughan Centre in Southgate Street - and where to find help for addictions.

Police say they will consider prosecuting people who have been given a card, and are not seeking help.

Inspector Neil Mantle said: "The idea behind the cards is to divert people off the streets and to give them an opportunity to take the routes that are open to them."

Gloucester's MP, Parmjit Dhanda, added: "The scheme is an excellent initiative that will reduce the amount of anti-social begging that takes place in our city.

"The police have my full support for this, and from my postbag I know that residents will support it too."