Kent County Council Trading Standards has issued a rogue trader warning to prevent homeowners shelling out cash for unnecessary maintenance work, this winter.

The authority is advising residents in Deal, Dover and Sandwich to watch out for traders who arrive unannounced, claiming work needs doing to your home even when it doesn’t.

A spokesman said: “They are opportunists hoping you will believe them when they say work needs doing to your home. They might say your roof tiles need replacing, your chimney stack is dangerous or your home in general needs some work.

“We know rogue traders have no intention of doing work properly, if at all.”

KCC Trading Standards has recommended that people, especially the vulnerable, use a door chain when answering the door, don’t hand over sums of money on demand and always check the caller’s identification card.

Anyone who has any doubts should call Kent Police on 101, or report them to the citizens advice consumer service on 03454 040506 between the hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.