BOGUS workmen, rogue salesmen and doorstep traders are being targeted by trading standards officers in an attempt to stop pensioners being duped out of their savings.

Recent cases in the county have included an 82-year-old who was charged £14,000 by workmen who replaced a few roof tiles, and a retired doctor who was charged £1,500 for a tap washer.

Trading Standards officers are visiting town and parish councils to ask them to help in the fight against conmen.

Steve Clover, head of Wiltshire Trading Standards, said: "We are becoming increasingly concerned over the numbers of calls we are getting about rogue traders and doorstep salesman.

"Members of the public should be vigilant and tell us of anything suspicious, giving us as much detail as possible.

"We strongly advise people to use reputable traders for jobs in and around the house and not tradesmen who go door to door. Friends and family recommendations are often the best way to find a reliable tradesman, or check that they are members of a recognised trade association."

Salesmen who cold call must by law tell people they have a chance to change their minds in a 30-day cooling off period.

Mr Clover said: "When someone takes it upon themselves to go on the knocker at people's homes it is an unsolicited call and the consumer is automatically at a disadvantage. It can be very intimidating.

"When someone signs up for goods and services they have a legal entitlement to change their mind within 30 days of signing the contract or agreeing verbally. If the work is done things get more complicated."

Mr Clover said statistics have shown that cold calls offering to undertake home maintenance work are often closely linked to serious crimes such as distraction burglaries.

The department has linked in with the police's Operation Litotes, which sets out to identify rogue traders in the south west before they become a problem, and is also working with Age Concern and the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Mr Clover said: "We are setting up a network so when someone reports a similar problem to an agency they will be followed up."

He appealed for people to be vigilant and inform trading standards if there are doorstep callers working in their area offering home improvement work, especially guttering and fascia work or gardening services.

Mr Clover said trading standards officers have enforcement powers enabling them to tackle doorstep selling, but it is imperative that the relevant information gets to the officers quickly.

Details such as vehicle type, registration number and physical appearances of the individuals concerned will be vital information for this project to succeed.

Trading Standards can be contacted on (01225) 713557 or by e-mail at: tradingstandards@wiltshire.gov.uk