ONE of the biggest surveys ever undertaken into the scale of violence, threats and abuse suffered by Britain's shopworkers is to be carried out by trade union Usdaw.

Official retail industry statistics list more than a million incidents of physical assaults, threats of violence and verbal abuse since 1995.

But Usdaw, the fifth largest union in the country, says these statistics are only the tip of the iceberg as they only take into account those incidents that are recorded.

The union, which represents East Lancashire's estimated 26,000 shopworkers, will also hold a National Respect for Shopworkers' Week from July 5 to July 11 with events scheduled to take place across the North West.

The plans were revealed at the union's annual delegate meeting, which is currently taking place in Blackpool.