The Government has been urged to help stem a "rising tide of violence" against shop workers after a study revealed there are more than 265 assaults every day.

Shop workers' union Usdaw said two-thirds of its members were verbally abused last year and 42% were threatened.

There has been a 25% increase in abuse and assaults, and threats are up by 38%, said the union.

Usdaw is urging MPs to vote for an amendment to the Offensive Weapons Bill that will make it a specific offence to obstruct a shopworker in their duty to enforce the law on the sale of offensive weapons.

Speaking at a fringe meeting at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, Paddy Lillis, Usdaw's general secretary, said: "Abuse, threats and violence against shop workers is a growing problem and a day-to-day reality for far too many workers employed in shops, supermarkets and convenience stores across the UK.

"What is clear from talking to our members is that abuse and violence against shop workers is on the rise.

"There is an epidemic of abuse and violence against the people who serve us in the shops. They deserve to be protected from violence."