North Yorkshire folk are once again being urged to be on their guard against the latest "unbelievable offer" to drop through their letterboxes.

The county's trading standards complaints and inquiries team have been contacted by residents who have received an official notice that they have won a fabulous prize.

The letter claims the recipient is guaranteed to receive either £150,000 in cash or one of a number of tempting prizes and all the person has to do is telephone a number to make their claim.

Trading standards officers are warning people to be aware that the small print indicates telephone claims cost £1 per minute. A call is likely to last nine-and-a-half minutes, leaving people almost £10 out of pocket, though an option to claim by post is hidden in the small print.

Officers believe that a prize of a gold neckchain, which is most likely of little value, will be awarded to most people who reply, rather than the more tempting DVD player or computer system.

Stuart Pudney, head of trading standards in the county, said: "From our experience of previous letters of this kind, the vast majority of claimants receive a small jewellery item which is usually worth nowhere near the amount they have spent on phone calls."

Anyone who receives such a letter and wants to notify trading standards can contact them on 01609 780780.

Updated: 11:53 Thursday, April 26, 2001