DOOR-to-door sales firms are being warned to keep out of the village where an 89-year-old war veteran was viciously beaten by burglars.

Plans are in place to make Salterforth a ‘No Cold Calling’ zone after villagers were left “frightened” by the brutal attack at Bob Schofield’s home.

After the incident 16 men, working for an un-named door-to-door sales firm, were arrested by police, but later released on bail.

Despite no-one being charged in connection with the attack, detectives still suspect salesman or ‘hawkers’ of being involved.

As part of the initiative signs will now be erected on the main routes into the village, warning ‘cold callers’ they are not welcome.

Police are working with Trading Standards officers on the scheme, which they expect will be confirmed following a meeting next week.

Local residents welcomed the proposed project, saying it would “enhance” safety in the Pendle village.

Mr Schofield was left with horrific facial injuries after confronting burglars at his home, in Chapel Hill, last November.

Following the attack, just after Remembrance Sunday, the pensioner, who served in the Royal Navy in the Second World War, spent weeks in hospital.

His 87-year-old wife Mollie, who suffered from shock after the assault, died earlier this year, less than six months after the ordeal.

Jeff Haydock, chairman of Salterforth Parish Council, said: “We just felt like we had to do something. There is a lot of sheltered housing in the village and elderly people who were frightened.

“We wanted to come up with something that would enhance safety and create a feeling of safety.”

Members of the local neighbourhood policing team will now meet with Trading Standards officers to discuss the plans next week before local residents are surveyed.

PC Claire Sharples, said they do not forsee problems with public support for the scheme because of the effect of the incident at the Schofields’ home.

Once the scheme is given the green light by Trading Standards warning signs will be put up on the four main routes into the village at Gisburn Road, Skipton Road, Kelbrook Brook and Moor Lane.

Sales staff who are found operating in a No Cold Calling zone will be contacted by Trading Standards who ask them to respect the community’s wishes.

Det Insp Dave Groombridge, of Pendle CID, who led the investigation into the incident in November, said: “I think there are occasions when even if the callers are legitimate in their business, they can be intimidating and vulnerable people can find them hard to deal with.

“If putting up signs to discourage them serves to reassure residents in Salterforth, especially the elderly, then it has got to be a good thing.”

In addition to the proposed signs £250 worth of funding has been secured from Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) to pay for security packs to be distributed to local householders. They will include items such as chains for front doors.

Earby Coun Valerie Langtree, who lives in Higher Lane, Salterforth, described the scheme as a “fantastic” idea.

She added: “If it works in Salterforth all the other villages and towns will want in as well and I hope it is rolled out to them because it’s common sense.”

But Peter King, the nephew of Bob and Mollie Schofield, said he was “not sure” whether the scheme was a good idea or not.

He added: “I can understand how people in the village feel because my wife is one those who didn’t feel safe after what happened.

“However, there are a lot of decent cold callers out there as well and I do have worries about the village becoming dormant.”

In February a reconstruction of the attack on Mr Schofield was aired on the BBC TV show Crimewatch, prompting hundreds of calls from the public.

No one has yet been charged in relation to the attack.