It is interesting that feeling runs so high about those particular BI sellers.

I've never had negative feelings about the BI before. I was quite pleased when the scheme started because it would help homeless people to get a bit of income in a more self-respectful way than begging, to tide them over for a short time until their circumstances improved.

But those particular women at Sainsburies really annoy me! When they first arrived I used to buy from them once a week, but it was uncomfortable because I felt I was being forced to. Once I gave one of them some extra money and after that the woman would literally follow me down the street shouting 'Please Madame', each time I walked past. I stopped buying after that, but I hate walking past and ignoring her now.

I think that there is something insistent about this particular group that does wind people up. I felt even more indigant after my partner saw one of the women encouraging a young man to beg on a train, which made me think they may be part of a big gang involved in many kinds of begging, which is against the spirit of BI.

My first post on this subject, but I want to say that I share the strong feelings and I'm interested in other peoples' views. Nothing at all against the BI in general.

Jane