RESIDENTS in the Milnshaw area of Accrington have backed plans for a new "no cold calling" scheme.

The proposed zone is bounded by Queen's Road West, Pansy Street, Lancaster Avenue and Gloucester Avenue, and was chosen for the pilot scheme because of the high proportion of housing for older people.

Signs will be put up around the area, which contains around 340 houses, warning that cold calling is not allowed.

Rachel Wilcock from Trading Standards said they hoped to "empower" residents to say no to any unwanted callers.

She said: "By creating this zone we are aiming to tackle doorstep crime and make people feel safer in their homes."

She said that any trader calling unannounced once the zone had been launched should be reported to the police, trading standards or local co-ordinator.