A NEW 'No Cold Calling Zone' has been set up to protect residents in Tadcaster.

Following a series of reports of bogus council officials and police officers in Stutton Road, with residents being conned and robbed of hundreds of pounds, residents have also reported "numerous calls from duster sellers, mattress sellers and people offering to do gardening work", police said.

Signs marking the zone have been put up to warn would-be callers they could be committing an offence if they cold call on residents.

Inspector Martin Wedgwood said: "The actions of bogus callers, rogue traders and distraction burglars can have a serious, long-lasting impact on their victims, affecting their confidence and in some cases, their physical and mental health.

"We welcome the move by Trading Standards which will give residents the confidence to stand up to these often very plausible and friendly callers who have just one aim – and that is to get money out of their victims. Whether that’s for shoddy, overpriced, substandard work, or by stealing it. My thanks go to our colleagues at Trading Standards for their work to establish this new zone.”

North Yorkshire County Councillor Andrew Lee, Executive member for Trading Standards, said: "We remain absolutely committed to targeting doorstep criminals in this county who prey on our most vulnerable residents. T

"No Cold Call Zones are one of the initiatives we use to help to protect residents and allow people to live safely and independently without fear of crime."