BIG Issue sellers in Kendal are being told to improve their selling tactics following a number of complaints from members of the public.

Homeless charity Manna House, which organises the sale of Big Issue in Kendal, confirmed it had received several verbal complaints from people in the town following the arrival of new sellers.

Manna House director Jonathan Brook said a number of Big Issue sellers from outside the area were being allowed to sell temporarily in Kendal because of a lack of sales pitches in the North West.

"We've had a number of verbal complaints so we have been trying to tighten up on exactly how they are selling so, hopefully, there should be an improvement and we will wait and see whether that is the case," he said.

"We are aware of the problem and we have taken steps to make sure sellers don't approach people in what could be deemed an aggressive way."

The Westmorland Gazette received an anonymous letter from a visitor who said they would not be returning to Kendal after being verbally abused by vendors when they refused to buy the magazine.

The topic has been generating debate after it was raised on the Gazette's website www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk.

One message posted by Mrs Sorrenson, of Kendal, said she agreed there were far too many people selling the magazine and that the sellers were intimidating. But Mrs Harding, of Kendal, posted a comment saying people should just politely say no and go on their way if they did not want to buy a magazine.

The Big Issue has a code of conduct for vendors selling the magazine. The code states that sellers must not use offensive language or obstruct the general public or cause an obstruction on the street.

After Manna House had received the complaints, shoppers in Kendal thought vendors had improved their selling techniques.

Sonia Corcoran, of Kendal, said: "It was quite intrusive and annoying being asked by the same person two or three times in a short space of time but the sellers seem a lot more gracious now."

Matthew Thompson, of Kendal, said he had avoided Wainwright's Yard after being stopped by a seller four times in one day.

"I don't mind being stopped once but it does get annoying after a while," he said.

What do you think? Have your say on the Big Issue sellers by commenting on the story or joining a forum on www.thewestmor landgazette.co.uk.