EAST Lancashire householders have been warned to beware of rogue builders in the wake of recent gales and heavy rainfall.

With Storm Ciara last weekend and Storm Dennis arriving overnight, thousands will need repairs to their homes.

Lancashire County Council trading standards boss Cllr Albert Atkinson said: “It’s highly likely that rogue traders will be out and about following the storms.

“They’ll try every trick in the book and can charge a fortune for work that simply isn’t needed.

“They are most likely to cold call and target elderly and vulnerable people.

"Once you start speaking to them, they will often point out a fairly minor repair job.

“When you let them into your property, this will escalate into an expensive list of jobs that just aren’t needed.

“If you think work needs to be done because of storm damage, check with your insurance company.

"We’d always advise ‘Say no to cold callers’ and report anyone using pushy sales tactics.”