RESIDENTS hit by flooding are being warned to beware of cowboy builders intent on making a "quick buck" by carrying out shoddy work.

And to help residents guard against employing below-standard workmen, North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers have set up a special register of approved builders.

The warning comes as many residents are considering employing builders to carry out work to repair their flood-damaged homes.

Stuart Pudney, head of trading standards, said thst after last year's flooding there were reports of unscrupulous tradesmen moving in to make a killing out of people's misery.

"Following a crisis such as this the normal rules of employing builders and workmen go out of the window," he said.

"Householders are often just so pleased to get somebody to do vital work and the normal advice of using local contractors and obtaining two or three quotations for work is often unrealistic."

The register will not be an official register but will enable trading standards officers to know who is operating in the area, added Mr Pudney.

"While this will not be an approval scheme it will enable us to know who is operating in the area and we will at least be able to check out their names and addresses." Chris Birch, a director of William Birch & Sons, of Foss Islands Road, York, said residents should seek references from a builder before employing them to carry out work.

"A proper builder will have a good record and will be able to cite examples of the work they have done in the past," he said.

"There may seem to be a lot of pressure on residents who have been flooded to get the work done quickly, but they shouldn't worry or panic. Work to repair a flood-damaged home is likely to take a long time anyway, so people should not rush into anything; check the builder is approved and check the references."

John Harrison, of Harrison Builders, in Selby, said there were a lot of unscrupulous builders in the area of which residents should be wary.

A builder from Norton, who asked not to be named, said residents should be wary of taking the lowest estimate when considering employing builders.

"Customers are often attracted to this particular estimate because they think they are getting the work done on the cheap but they usually end up paying more for it because the work is often shoddy."

Trading standards officers are on hand to give advice to householders on 01609 780780 and traders wishing to register should also call that number for information.