BUSKERS-turned-beggars could find themselves out of tune with the public.

Worcester people who want to be able to walk through the city centre without being pestered will be cheered to know that a campaign has begun to bring about a change in the law relating to "public nuisances".

The ex-Mayor of Worcester, Councillor David Clark, decided to lead the initiative as his final act as the figurehead of the Faithful City.

He wants to stop buskers who cannot sing, dance or play an instrument - but use it as a form of begging - and clipboard holders, who may be collecting contact details for timeshare schemes, catalogues or double glazing.

"I thought it was a great way to finish off using the title of Mayor, to be able to improve this city and hopefully other cities," he said.

"The idea struck when I was walking though Worcester and there were so many people selling and collecting."

Coun Clark is lobbying MPs, mayors and local authority chief executives up and down the country, in a bid to present a united front.

They will be lobbying for a change in the Pedlars Act and the Vagrancy Act which currently allows street sellers to obtain a pedlars licence from any local authority and sell their goods in any town of their choice.

"I'd like to be able to get a Street Nuisances Act that gives each individual council control," he said.

"It appears that local authorities, which exist to manage the local affairs of their citizens, are powerless to provide nuisance-free environments without spending huge amounts of money on individual test cases."