A former street vendor has successfully got a job as an assistant urban management officer in Hubei province.

Chen Runhong, 42, applied for the position of assistant chengguan in May after selling clothes on the street for six years in Hanyang district in Wuhan.

On July 1, the chengguan department in Hanyang district offered Chen the job, according to a report in Chutian Metropolis Daily on July 19.

The relations between chengguan and street vendors are usually tense, with the officers often accused of treating people badly.

Chen said that it was better to persuade vendors in a gentle manner and that he could communicate with them well because of his experience.

Chen could earn a monthly income of 1,000 yuan ($163) from the job.