Chuggers – it is a subject which always provokes a reaction.

While most shoppers and traders can appreciate that they are doing a job for a good cause, it doesn’t mean they are universally liked.

The issue has now come to a head in the North Laine in Brighton, where the chuggers, or charity muggers, are a common sight on busy days.

One shop owner claims the groups of people who collect bank details are blighting his business.

Despite the complaints, Brighton and Hove City Council said there was nothing it could do about the groups.

Tim Price, owner of JuJu vintage clothing store in Gloucester Road, Brighton, blamed the presence of the fundraisers for his worst takings in 17 years.

Mr Price said: “It’s difficult to know 100% but there have been five chuggers right outside our shop, clearly affecting the flow of traffic into our shop.

“They are aware of our annoyance now.

“When we have approached them they simply comment ‘We don’t care about your business, we have a job to do’.

“It’s outrageous.”

But chuggers are not a major issue for everyone. The owner of stationery firm Pen to Paper, in Sydney Street, Brighton, said: “It can be a problem but if they do appear outside the shop I just ask the supervisor to move them on, which they generally do.”

Other areas where the clipboard-wielding groups like to gather include Churchill Square shopping centre, North Street and George Street in Hove.

Government laws currently mean volunteers collecting coins for organisations need a licence to collect money in the street.

But because chuggers, who mainly work for national charities and can earn between £8 and £10 an hour, seek pledges and bank details, they do not.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils across the country, recently called for the loophole in the Charities Act to be updated to give town halls more power to intervene if charity workers cause a nuisance.