Britain's seaside resorts could lose their last remaining Punch and Judy shows due to rising levels of abuse being hurled at performers by vulgar viewers.
With just three official Punch and Judy acts still operating in England, two of the performers say they are subjected to foul-mouthed tirades when they ask for £2 donations.
Viewers wrongly assume that because the traditional shows are on public beaches in Swanage and Weymouth, Dorset, they are funded by the local council despite signs next to the stalls asking for a £2 fee, the performers say.
Punch and Judy staff have been shocked by the 'effing and blinding' shouted out in front of youngsters while performing the traditional puppet show.
Shows in the coastal towns of Weymouth and Swanage have entertained beachgoers for generations since they were set up in 1880 and 1904 respectively.
Staff have been shocked by the 'effing and blinding' shouted out in front of youngsters while performing the traditional puppet show. Pictured: Punch and Judy in Weymouth, Dorset
Britain's seaside resorts could lose their last remaining Punch and Judy shows due to rising levels of abuse being hurled at performers by vulgar viewers
But Punch and Judy 'professors' Joe Burns and Mark Poulton say this summer's antics have been the worst they've ever experienced.
They say their assistants have been left terrified by the abuse they have received on a regular basis.
29-year-old Joe, who works on Swanage beach, said: 'There's a lot of effing and blinding - it's not ok swearing around kids.
'It definitely feels more pronounced this year, people are getting more angry. Each day you wake up not knowing what's going to happen and how people are going to react.
'If we have to worry each year about the level of abuse we're getting, you start to think, what's the point in carrying on?'
Punch and Judy 'professors' Joe Burns (left) and Mark Poulton say this summer's antics have been the worst they've ever experienced
It is understood that there are just three official Punch and Judy acts still operating in England
On one occasion, Joe recalled a family of eight setting up camp in front of the show and refusing to pay.
One member of the family followed the donation collector, screaming and shouting at them and accusing them of 'ruining' their day at the beach.
'My ambition is to make people's day at the beach, not to ruin it,' Joe said.
'The collectors that work for
