A CAMPAIGN to stem the rising levels of violence and verbal abuse facing shopworkers has been backed by Leigh MP Andy Burnham.

Addressing a conference in Warrington, the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Home Secretary David Blunkett said Usdaw's Freedom from Fear campaign touched on all the big issues in every MP's constituency.

He was speaking at the retail Trades Conference attended by over 100 members and officials of the leading retail union.

He said: "The people are saying enough is enough. It has been softly softly for too long. As a society, we need to show that we mean business. We need to fight back and say this is not right. We need to get back some basic standards of respect."

The MP said the government placed anti-social, "loutish" behaviour high on its list of priorities.

Usdaw launched its campaign last year to raise awareness of the largely forgotten issue of violence and abuse.