Please spare a thought for the work of the Big Issue sellers and the difficulties of their lives.

My regular seller who camps just outside York with his little dog has just had his rucksack stolen.

It contained money, magazines, his badge and - important to him - the dog anchor (which lets Bob have a little run and is quite expensive to buy), as well as dog bowls, food and treats to keep the dog happy during the hours of standing selling.

He lost the rucksack because he left it immediately outside the toilet. He always keeps the dog with him for safety reasons and there is not room for the rucksack as well.

There have apparently been a number of such thefts lately.

However the seller has not informed the police as he feels that it will be impossible to prove and it might be dangerous to himself and his dog if revenge is taken.

He says that the rucksack will be abandoned somewhere after the money has been taken. If anyone finds it, please take it to St Crux Church Hall and perhaps the dog contents will be returned.

Please support Big Issue sellers. Their motto is “a hand up, not a hand out”.

The £2.50 buys you an interesting and lively magazine and the seller pays £1.25 for it and makes £1.25 when he or she sells it.

Rita Freedman,

Jackson Street, York