ROGUE builders, dodgy roofers and aggressive salesman are among 150 reports investigated by Trading Standards this year.

A spate of incidents in Rossendale in recent weeks are being looked into and have prompted a day of action in the borough.

On Wednesday, Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards and Rossendale Borough Council’s Fraud Department targeted hotspot areas, 26 traders and 15 homes to check if the paperwork was legal and if their customers were happy with their work.

Crime Prevention Officer PC Phil Buck said: “Rogue traders prey on the elderly and vul-nerable, often conning them out of vast sums of money for work that is substandard, unnec-essary and overpriced.

"Dealing with a rogue trader can have a seriously detrimental effect on a victim’s health and conf-idence.

“This operation was also aimed at protecting the large number of reputable companies whose livelihoods could be damaged by the actions of unscrupulous traders.

Paul Noone, head of Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, added: “Our service has investigated 10 such incidents in Rossendale, ranging from aggressive practices by salesmen, to unjustified price increases halfway through jobs and even guttering work which left one consumer unable to open her windows.

“We urge residents not to deal with doorstep callers.”

County Coun Albert Atkinson, added: “Rogue doorstep trading often involves the use of high pressure sales techniques to convince householders to sign up to overpriced or unnecessary work there and then.

“The work will usually be of poor quality or unfinished – leaving people out of pocket and often needing to spend even more to put the problem right.”

Find reputable firms at www.safetrader.org.uk or report problems to 08454 040506 or contact police on 0845 1253545.