THE chief executive of a Tyneside-based charity has called for the practice of "chugging" to be banned.

Aggressive High Street tactics to get shoppers to commit to sign up for direct debits are making people "turn their backs on charities" and harming good causes, Stephen Bell of Changing Lives said.

Newcastle city councillor Nick Kemp said it had tried to bring in a by-law to ban chugging amid concerns about visitors to Northumberland Street, the main shopping street, being hassled.

But the attempt stalled due to a lack of Government support, he said, and Newcastle will liaise with other cities to see what can be done.

"Clearly it has a detrimental effect on the general shopper, as well as an impact on registered charities and other collectors," he said.

The national charity helps vulnerable people and their families with issues such as homelessness, and its boss felt "charity mugging" - or chugging - hindered a sector already harmed by the collapse of Kids Company and the way some generous donors have been hounded to give more.

When shoppers are confronted by intrusive chuggers, employed by private companies to get people to donate, it adds to the negative image, the chief executive said.

"For us to succeed we have to be accountable to the public and we have to take a more professional manner.

"I want an outright ban on chugging."

He had no sympathy for major charities who use the tactic - which "obviously works" - and said they have to realise the impact it has on the public, and on other good causes which choose not to use chuggers.

"We are in a situation at the moment when public opinion seems to be turning against charities," he said. "We need to be transparent and bring the public with us."