Carol singers could be stopped from making door-to-door collections under proposals which would treat them like salesmen.

A ballot asking people in Seaford to vote on accepting a no cold-calling zone ends today with the results expected on Thursday (October 27).

If the scheme is accepted, anyone knocking on doors to collect money or offer a service would be breaching the ban.

This could also include trick-or-treating children at Halloween.

The only exceptions are canvassers for political parties or religious groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Seaford Town Council, which is considering the cold-calling system, says residents voting can tick a box agreeing that charities should be exempted.

Those in favour of the new system say some elderly residents can feel intimidated by strangers asking for money, even for charity.

If the scheme is accepted by residents “no cold-calling zone” signs would be erected around the coastal town.

The president of Seaford Rotary Club, Isla Sitwell, is concerned the proposals could affect the charity’s work.

It raised £8,000 from its door-to-door Christmas appeal last year.

She said: “We want to maintain our good relationship with the town’s residents, so if the vote does not exempt us then we would have to stop.”

The Rotary Club has put a message on its website asking people to support charities.