DETAILS of our area's first "No Cold Calling" zones for doorstep salesmen have been revealed - and others are on the cards.

The scheme, to protect householders against nuisance traders, is being piloted in the Great Ayton area of North Yorkshire - but Pickering and Stokesley are set to follow suit.

City of York Council is also looking closely at plans, and wants to hear from any communities interested in setting up "no-go" areas in the city.

A spokesman said: "York is not a cold-calling free zone at this stage, but it is something we could look into in the future."

If all residents in an area agree, trading standards officers will set up zones banning ALL doorstep salesmen from their streets.

The "No Cold Calling" zones are among 140 being set up across Britain, as reported in the Evening Press earlier this week.

Now street signs are being set up in three areas of the county, warning traders they are not welcome.

It is aimed at crooks such as builder Joseph Horner who conned York pensioners out of £4,000 for work he never completed.

Councillor John Fort, North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for community services, who is a former policeman, said: "We believe that 'no cold calling zones' will send out a clear signal to people who operate like this that they are not welcome."

Sgt Matt France, community safety sergeant for Hambleton, said: "We believe that 'no cold calling zones' will also have an impact on the work of opportunist thieves."

The pilot scheme was introduced in Great Ayton after high numbers of bogus callers and high pressure salesmen were seen there, and is backed by Hambleton Community Safety Partnership.

Partnership member Councillor Carl Les said: "I'm sure it will have a major impact on the quality of life of a lot of people as the scheme expands across North Yorkshire."

Trading standards staff are already working with police and community safety partners in Pickering and Stokesley to get zones up and running.

But anyone else who feels their neighbourhood would benefit from being a "No Cold Calling" zone should contact North Yorkshire Trading Standards Service on 01609 768654.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, November 02, 2005