I HOPE the residents of Heslington Croft have more success with their cold-calling zone than has happened in this area of Poppleton.

Since we became a no cold-calling zone about a year ago, we have regularly been pestered by visitors saying they are exempt from the regulations.

They say they represent charities, religious groups, pollsters, free lotteries, etc, and because they are not selling anything they are allowed to call. One even stated that he had been authorised by City of York Council to sell door-to-door in the street. Most offer to produce a scrap of plastic as identification, and all deny they are casing the area for a future nefarious visit.

I wonder if canvassers for the political parties in the European elections can be accused of cold-calling and reported to the police or trading standards.

Alec Acomb, Hillcrest Avenue, Nether Poppleton, York.

•A spokesperson for City of York Council said:

“Cold-calling controlled zones are designed to deter bogus traders calling at your door who may commit crimes under the guise of providing legitimate goods and services.

“The sign at the end of each designated street is designed to show the people engaged in these crimes that the residents living there will not deal with cold callers. There are, however, no laws to prevent a trader or anyone else going into the zone, but as the residents in the zone have all agreed to turn them away there is little point trying. They are an effective deterrent, and the figures show that they are highly successful in reducing residents fear of doorstep crime.”