A COLLECTION box in the shape of a large Greggs pasty could be put on a city's streets to help in the battle against nuisance beggars, a councillor has said.

The suggestion was made in Newcastle where councillors were discussing ways to stop kind-hearted local people mistakenly giving cash to people who would waste the money on drink and drugs.

The idea, which has not been discussed with the North-East baking giant, was revealed at a meeting of Safe Newcastle this week, which is made up of councillors, police, health and housing officials.

Councillor Nick Kemp raised the idea of having a collection box in the form of a giant Greggs pasty on a city centre street. Money given would then be handed over to charity.

It would mean people who wanted to make a donation would have somewhere central to give, but it would stop money going directly to a beggar, some of whom were not genuinely needy.

The council has an ongoing No Need to Beg campaign to make people aware that some beggars were dishonestly claiming to be needy, and some were making up to £300 a day.

Since the meeting Mr Kemp, who is chairman of the Safe Newcastle board, clarified there were no immediate plans to erect the giant pasty donation point.

He said in a statement: "It is an understandable basic human instinct to want to help people in need but by giving to beggars you can be reinforcing a risky lifestyle if that person is spending the money on a drink or a drugs addiction.

"As an alternative we have discussed the idea of a visible focal point in the city centre where people can make a donation and that donation be used to fund a charity or outreach group which helps beggars with their complex needs.

"I cited the Greggs pasty purely as an example of something visible. There are no specific plans for a giant pasty, however the idea of a visible collection point is something we will actively consider as an alternative to giving cash direct to beggars."