BEGGARS are making more than £100 a day in Colchester.

But experts say the kindness of donors may be contributing to their deaths.

Experts say the money is being used by the beggars for drink and drugs.

Now a new campaign is being launched calling on residents to donate money where it is most needed instead of giving it to drink and drug addicts – a decision which could kill.

Homeless charities are joining forces with Essex Police and Colchester Council to help those in need and stop others taking advantage.

The Your Kindness Kills campaign is being launched tomorrow in Culver Square, Colchester.

Vivienne Wiggins is the centre manager at Beacon House, the Christian charity which offers facilities for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in Colchester.

She said: “It is a brutal message, but the sad thing is we have been going to a lot of funerals for people who use our services and who are suffering early deaths from bad batches of drugs.”

PC Michael Lee said: “Drug and alcohol abuse has a devastating impact on people in the town.

“We want to find ways to help them, we want to help the truly homeless.

“We have incidents of aggressive begging and public order problems.

“We have seen an increase in people begging and only a small number of them are truly homeless.”

New research suggests some are making more than £100-a-day. It also found 80 per cent of Colchester’s beggars have somewhere to live.

The investigation found 90 per cent have drug and or alcohol problems.

The campaign is being supported by Open Road, Beacon House, the Colchester Emergency Night Shelter, and national charity Shelter.

It has been launched with the support of experts, who say the donations, while well meaning, do more harm than good.

Representatives from the police, council and charities will be available tomorrow from 9am to 4pm in Culver Square.