RODBOURNE shopkeeper Azim Khan has thrown his support behind a new campaign by the Home Office and retail union Usdaw to protect shop workers from crime.

This follows Usdaw revealing the results of a national survey of its members, which found more than half of Britain's shopworkers are concerned about violence and verbal threats, with incidents occurring once every minute of the working day.

The six per cent rise in violent crime announced this week leaves them vulnerable to a range of physical attacks.

These range from stabbings to violent assaults so serious that some shopworkers are scared of actually going back on the shopfloor.

A new campaign is being launched by the union and the Home Office called 'Freedom from Fear.

This is to make sure the right security is in place and that people know what to do when confronted with nuisance customers.

Azim Khan, of Khan Conveniences on Rodbourne Road, was recently attacked by a man with a hammer.

He said: "I don't find this area particularly dangerous, but you always have a bit of fear at the back of your mind.

"You never know who is going to walk through the door next.

"It is the late night opening stores who are in the most danger, but luckily Swindon is not like other urban centres where shopkeepers now literally cage themselves away from their customers."