Rogue traders and conmen who take advantage of the elderly and vulnerable have been particularly targeted by trading standards in recent weeks.

The department teamed up with Warwickshire Police to try and put a stop to what is becoming an increasing problem in Warwick district.

They recently held a rogue traders awareness day at the Garden Organic Ryton to teach health and care professionals, who deal with those most commonly targeted by these dodgy dealers, how to avoid it.

Trading standards officer Richard Brooks explained how this type of crime affects its victims.

He said: “For elderly and vulnerable people this can really make a difference to their trust and the confidence they have in themselves. In some cases it can even lead to quite serious health problems.

“Unfortunately a lot of these people are very lonely and often grateful to have someone to chat to in the middle of the day and the rogue traders exploit their situation.

“We want to empower people rather than scare them and are really keen to spread the message that they are not stupid but rather these criminals are just very clever.”

Among those recently targeted in Warwick district include a couple who paid £680 to have their weeds sprayed to discover the ‘gardener’ had used only water on their lawn.

Another man paid £4,800 to have new guttering fitted on his house, but it didn’t even catch the rainwater.

A Bishops Tachbrook man narrowly avoided spending £1,350 to get his guttering re-done before trading standards officers intervened.

At the Ryton awareness event trading standards gave out home security and personal safety packs containing information on what people should do if traders call at their door unannounced.

Francis Scott from Carewatch South Warwick-shire said the advice was invaluable to her and her staff who deal with elderly people every day.

She said: “They gave us a lot of information we can pass on to the people we deal with who are most at risk. It will make them more vigilant and it was a good learning curve for us.”

People are advised to run through a ‘locked, stop, chain and check’ routine before they open their door to a stranger and to ask for official identification and verify it by calling a separate number before going any further.

Mr Brooks said that if in doubt people should shut the door and contact a trader who has been recommended to them or who is on the Warwickshire Tradeline.

People over 50 can call 08456 123 258 for a list of local trusted traders.