A CRACKDOWN on "aggressive" buskers could be on the way to Worcester after concern it is disturbing shoppers.

Licensing officers working for the city council have been asked to review the city centre's situation amid fears of a negative impact.

Every year the authority hands out deals for a limited number of charitable street collectors in the city centre, which is normally pegged at around 30.

They are also spread out in certain locations, not just the High Street, to avoid becoming too much of a nuisance for shoppers.

But for people who say they are 'busking' the policy is more flexible, with bosses not asking for a formal application.

For the last two Saturdays, people waving buckets for charity have been spotted asking for money in the High Street without city council approval.

Some councillors also say traders are becoming fed up of static buskers being near their premises playing music.

After a debate at the licensing and environmental health committee, regulatory services chiefs have agreed to look into it.

Councillor Paul Denham, the vice-chairman said: "We do seem to have other people who haven't been licensed out on the streets, particularly at this time of year.

"The whole purpose of this committee deciding to have a limit of 30 a year was to reduce the amount of hassle people get from those looking to extract money from them."

Councillor Roger Knight, the city's current mayor, said: "What Paul is saying is absolutely right - when we said there'd be 30 people doing it we also zoned it to make sure they are spread out.

"It's open to abuse, and it certainly is being abused."

During the debate Councillor Lucy Hodgson said the busking was "taking away from those people taking the time to make an application".

She also said some buskers can be seen aggressively shaking tins.

Councillor Gareth Jones said he knows "quite a few traders" who are "fed up" of buskers sitting down by their stores playing music.

Licensing officer Niall McMenamin, from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, told them he would take it up.

"We have been approached by a number of organisations and the advice we give them is yes, you can busk," he said.

"This is the first I've heard about this but I can follow it up because it's not a legal street collection, the only legal ones as actually those authorised by this committee.

"Maybe some clarity is needed over what buskers can and cannot do."