I was pleased to see Peter Wileman (Letters, November 7) explain that Big Issue vendors could sell the magazine only from specific pitches and must identify themselves as legitimate by wearing a badge showing their licence number.

In Brighton's Lanes, I have suffered torrents of verbal abuse and been followed because I have refused to buy a copy of the magazine from bogus vendors.

I hope when people are aware of the strict policies the Big Issue adopts, they will purchase a copy of the magazine only from a legitimate vendor on a marked pitch.

-Sue Addis, Donatello, Brighton