Regional Trading Standards officers are urging Keighley people to stay secure in their homes by saying “no” to cold calling doorstep traders.

As part of the Trading Standards Institute’s annual National Consumer Week, householders are being encouraged to tell doorstep traders to go away.

And officers stress that traders who refuse to leave are committing a criminal offence and should be reported to them or the police.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “More than 10,000 complaints are made about cold calling doorstep traders every year, but this is likely to only be the tip of the iceberg. We know victims are often embarrassed and frightened and many incidents will go unreported.

“One incident that was reported to Trading Standards was of a ‘tree surgeon’ who posted fliers through doors of elderly residents touting for gardening work.

“The trader offered to cut down various trees for an 86-year-old lady with dementia, and tried to charge £8,000 for the work but the true value of the work was nearer to £300.

“West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service received a complaint and intervened to assist the elderly consumer. She stopped the cheque and no money exchanged hands.”