Trafford Council Trading Standards officers are warning residents to beware of rogue traders offering to carry out repair work following damage caused by Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.

The traders have been going door to door across the borough asking people to hand over cash to deal with fallen trees and fix broken fences and damaged roofs.

Trading standards officers say rogue traders can appear both charming and extremely plausible on the doorstep, but they often target vulnerable people, taking advantage to charge vast sums for work that is unnecessary, badly done or not done at all.

They may quote low prices, but they will soon demand more and more money.

Trafford’s Trading Standards advice is never to do business on the doorstep and treat any uninvited callers with suspicion. If work is agreed in this way, consumers should normally be entitled to written notice of their right to cancel within fourteen days, and should not be put under pressure to waive this right unless the work is a genuine emergency.

Residents should never be hurried or pressured into having work and the best way to choose a trader is to seek recommendations from friends, relatives and neighbours.

Cllr Mike Freeman, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform, said: “Rogue Traders are a blight on our society, always targeting the most vulnerable in our communities to commit to paying sky high prices for very substandard work. These traders are criminals.

"I urge everyone to heed the advice of Trading Standards and ask that wherever possible our residents look out for their more vulnerable neighbours and report any concerns they have about suspicious callers offering services to the police.”

For consumer advice, please call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, or to report suspicious callers to Greater Manchester Police on 101