KENT County Council's trading standards officials have launched a hotline to enable people to report unscrupulous doorstep traders.

The county council carried out a survey that revealed that 98 per cent of Kent residents don’t want doorstep traders calling at their homes.

Many people associate the tradesmen with con men who call uninvited and persuade householders to part with large sums of cash for sub-standard or unnecessary work.

The hotline has been set up so people have a quick and effective way of reporting them.

KCC Trading Standards and Kent Police know it is difficult to resolve a dispute once a trader has called and money has been paid, so are asking residents to become more aware and involved in tackling the problem.

Information learnt via the hotline will help uncover the patterns of callers and the services they are offering. An intelligence picture will be drawn up and the job catching the rogue traders will be made much easier.

Council Cabinet Member for Community Services Sarah Hohler said: “We are encouraging Kent consumers to provide us with the intelligence about doorstep sellers by phoning 0845 3450 210.

“The KCC contact centre will be manned six days a week and Trading Standards Officers will respond to urgent calls.”

The hotline is open from 8am until 8pm from Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings.