The tough standards aim to prevent members of the public in Glasgow being followed, blocked, intimidated or made to feel guilty if they do not sign up to support the charities.

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA), which drew up the guidelines, said the new regime – revealed in the Evening Times in March – would help to improve the reputation of charity muggers or "chuggers" as they are commonly known, through spot checks.

The moves limit the areas that the fundraisers are allowed to operate.

They are now only allowed in six city centre locations and seven other sites with only five fundraisers allowed to operate in any one place and only one charity allowed on each site on any day.

The deal, struck between Glasgow City Council and the PFRA, is the first of its kind in Scotland, although similar arrangement are in place in councils in England and Wales.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau welcomed the latest crackdown. Chief executive Scott Taylor said: "I believe it is quite legitimate for charities to collect on the street and anything that ensures prospective patrons are not held to ransom is a positive."

A guidebook produced by the PFRA covers detailed guidelines on conduct, including a "three step rule" that prevents fundraisers from following members of the public by limiting them to walking alongside them for no more than three steps.

The new rules will be enforced through mystery shoppers employed by the PFRA.

Any breaches of the code of conduct will earn penalty points which, if they add up to 1000 at the end of the year, will equal a fine of £1 per point.

After a year, the slate will be wiped clean.

But the new rules have raised warnings that charities, which raise around £130million a year from street and doorstep marketing, could see a dip in income as a result.