TRADING Standards have urged people who receive a chain letter claiming to bring a £40,000 windfall to bin it.

The letter, which has been received by residents in East Lancashire, asks the recipient to send £10 to an address on a list and then 200 letters to random people in the phone book in return for the huge cash drop within 60 days.

Today trading standards at Blackburn with Darwen Council warned about the "financial and moral" risks of getting sucked in.

And they stressed the dangers of continuing the chain -- and revealing your address to strangers.

The letter asks you to "think about a few pounds" and send £10 to the first person on the list and then forward it to 200 random names out of the phone book. Carole Davis, of Lynthorpe Road, Blackburn, received one of the letters and said people should ignore it. The 39-year-old mother-of-two said: "I would strongly advise people to think twice about getting involved.

"You have no idea who is behind this.

"If the more vulnerable people in society receive this they may get sucked in."

Chris Allan, head of Trading Standards and Advice, said: "This is perfectly likely to be a scam and I suggest people put it straight in the bin."

"If you really sit down and work out the maths behind this kind of chain, being fourth or fifth in line it is unlikely that you would get any financial remuneration."