Visited Pontypridd yesterday and for the first time ever saw not one but two beggars sat on the pavement along Taff Street. More surprising was they weren't the stereotypical beggars common to some Cardiff streets as they were middle-aged, non-white of Indian subcontinent appearance and neither the man or woman seemed ravaged by drugs or alcohol. Sat separately either side of the street some 50 yards apart, both had young dogs sat close to them. I always immediately think that beggars with dogs are professional scammers that are not homeless and use the animals to help evoke sympathy and larger donations.

Are beggars now a feature of the town? If so, what about Caerphilly, Merthyr, Aberdare and Tonypandy?