A CONTROVERSIAL group of street sellers have had seven complaints made against them in ten days.

Action could now be taken against Gag Mag sellers after The Press revealed less than two weeks ago how the men had been warned about their conduct by Trading Standards.

They sell the joke books for £3 and claim to be pocketing some of their earnings to make a living.

But since we ran a story about an investigation into the magazines and some of the sellers' claims about where the money ends up, City of York Council's Citizens Advice hotline has received almost one complaint a day about the traders.

Sean Suckling, public protection manager at City of York Council, said: “Since 19 June our Citizens Advice Consumer hotline has had seven complaints about gag mag sellers.

"As with all complaints, we’re following up the information provided to see if we have enough evidence to take further action regarding the sellers.”

Our investigation questioned sellers about claims they tell people the profits go to charity or tell would-be buyers the magazine "works like a RAG (Raising and Giving) Mag."

Sellers, who often approach unsuspecting tourists and passers-by, can often be found outside the Minster, in St Helen's Square or in Stonegate trying to entice people to buy the joke-filled booklet.

Our investigation made attempts to find out where the magazines are published after learning they contained no information about where they are printed.

One seller claimed they were printed on the other side of the country and posted to him from Lancashire, but later changed his explanation and said one of his friends picked them up on the morning before they started selling them.

Anyone with information about the sellers should call the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 03454 040506 or online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk