BEWARE the building cowboys taking advantage of a burgeoning workload for builders in the Yorkshire region.

That is the warning to householders by the Federation of Master Builders, whose latest "state of trade survey" demonstrates a big and growing workload in the first quarter of this year.

Demand for builders in Yorkshire increased by 13 per cent - a big leap, although the average UK increase in work was up by 36 per cent.

The report says that the results offer some reassurance to economists who regard expenditure on building work as a useful indicator of consumer confidence and general economic activity.

"However, the buoyancy of the sector will mean that homeowners will have to be on their guard against cowboys attracted by easy pickings," it warns.

Work on private housing continues to show positive growth but the main impetus for growth has been repair and maintenance of non-residential and public buildings plus orders for new industrial and commercial premises. Forecasts suggest the demand will increase by 19 per cent over the quarter to the end of this month.

The growing activity has left builders short of skilled craftsmen, with half of them (52 per cent) reporting difficulty in finding bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers or plumbers.

But the biggest problem for genuine builders is the influx of cash-in-hand rogue traders, said Ron Wilson, regional director of the Federation of Master Builders in Yorkshire and Trent.

Homeowners were deterred by having to wait until a reputable builder was available and at the same time were attracted by the prospect of a 17.5 per cent VAT-free discount.

"This is a false economy," warned Mr Wilson. "The home is often your most important asset, so it is better to get the job done right, rather than pay a rogue trader for a second rate bodge job.

"If things go wrong you have no legal recourse and will probably need a proper builder to correct problems. You get what you pay for."