TRADING standards bosses in North Yorkshire are investigating a furniture seller who is known to operate in the county.

The authority was called in following a complaint from a Scarborough resident concerning claims that furniture, which was sold as leather, did not match that description. The seller, who operates door-to-door or stops people in the street, has been tracked down by trading officers who are currently testing the furniture against claims that it does not comply with flammability regulations.

Coun Carl Les, the county council's executive member for trading standards said: "This is just another example to show that there are no bargains when buying from doorstep sellers. Handing over £400 to someone that you don't know and will never find if things go wrong just doesn't make good sense."

Updated: 09:36 Thursday, June 05, 2003