One of Salmat’s local clients, angry at not being consulted about the change, said the distributor had confirmed safety fears were behind the judgment.

     Coledale has a long-standing reputation as a hotbed of crime,

however, locals maintain it is just a few “bad eggs” causing all the trouble.

     Furious resident Pauline Bielefeld, who has been delivering the brochures since February, maintains she was never once threatened when working.

She has collected the signatures of more than 120 locals calling for the company to lift its ban and resume the service immediately.

“It’s just not right,” she said. “It’s just more stigmatising of Coledale. If Salmat is that worried about it, give me 150 catalogues and come along when I deliver them.

“I’m in a mobility scooter and can’t run. I’m not stupid enough to have done this for months if I thought it was dangerous.”

Tamworth Discount Drug Store proprietor Lia Mahony said Salmat, which has delivered the store’s catalogues for five years, had not notified her of the change.

She said the majority of the Robert St store’s clients were from Coledale and her business would undoubtedly be affected.

“It’s really disappointing that the customers who do shop with us and spend money in our store won’t be able to see the catalogues,” she said.

“These catalogues work, absolutely. People walk into the store holding the catalogues. We have not been told in any way, shape or form that this has happened.”

Tamworth’s IGA king Carlo Cavallaro told The Leader he was “very unhappy” at the decision and was considering posting out his catalogues to the Coledale community.

“We were not notified until some of our customers told us and we don’t quite understand Salmat’s decision,” he said.

“Apparently it is part of their contract that they can refuse to deliver brochures if there is a plausible reason.”

Salmat has not responded to The Leader’s calls.