STORES and shoppers are being urged to back a campaign to win more protection for shopworkers.

Members of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers were in Middlesbrough town centre yesterday and collected signatures for one of 100 petitions to be presented to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Last year 16,200 shopworkers across the UK were assaulted at work, and 118,600 were threatened or abused.

The union is calling on the Government to introduce more protection for shopworkers.

Middlesbrough shopworker Mim Sibley said: "Verbal abuse and attacks in the retail sector are far too commonplace.

"The vast majority of customers are fine, but we have to protect shopworkers from the small minority of abusive and aggressive customers who are making our working life intolerable."

Shops are being asked to adopt a charter of respect and some companies, including the Co-op, have put signs in their shops which say that abuse will not be tolerated.

This year, staff at the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op have been subjected to two robberies, including one with a firearm, 13 assaults and 108 incidents of verbal abuse.

Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, in Hartlepool, and Wellington Square Shopping Centre, in Stockton, are also backing the campaign.

Rob Gildersleeve, the centre manager at Wellington Square, said: "Shopworkers are a vital part of the retail community and provide a great service for thousands of shoppers.

"They deserve greater respect and should be able to go about their jobs without the fear of violence and abuse.''