Next time you pass by a street beggar, hold onto your money - your kindness could kill.

That is the hard-hitting message of a campaign launched today by Maidstone Borough Council, which wants shoppers to instead donate to homeless charities.

Loose change for beggars is often used to buy alcohol or drugs that could ultimately kill them, says the council.

The posters - showing an image of a body made up of coins - are going up on the sides of park-and-ride buses and town centre car parks.

"We are also talking to shop traders with a view to displaying them in windows," a council spokesman said.

Professional beggars can earn up to £200 a day from shoppers in Maidstone, posing as homeless.

The town has seen an influx in recent months, although a crackdown has now led to them being moved on.

Many of these beggars have previously set up "tent city" camps in places such as parks, woodland glades and even in a cemetery, just a three-minute walk from Maidstone's shopping centre.

John Littlemore, head of council housing, said: "There has been a lot of joint work put in behind the scenes to help the people that need help, and talk to the ones that don't.

"Begging has been an issue, and we had one report of someone hiring a dog to beg with. That person has now been moved on, and we have also heard of figures of up to £200 a day begging in Maidstone."

He said the council worked closely with both the Porchlight homeless charity and the Maidstone Day Centre, which supports those in need.

Cllr John A. Wilson, cabinet member for community and leisure services, said: "The public give their money to street beggars in good faith, often presuming they that they are homeless.

"Unfortunately, giving money to people begging does not always help them."