HOUSEHOLDERS in a Teesside town are being warned to be on their guard against doorstep callers offering to install dropped kerbs on roads outside their homes.

The alert has been issued by Hartlepool Borough Council after a resident was approached by bogus salesmen offering to install a dropped kerb.

The resident said he had been quoted £270 for the work.

When questioned about the need for planning permission by the resident, the salesmen claimed all he needed was an address.

But council officials have stressed that dropped kerbs - as part of the public highway - can only be installed with council approval.

Trading standards officers have launched an investigation into the bogus sales offer.

Senior technical officer Brian Dinning said: "These people clearly do not have permission to do this sort of work, but our advice to residents wanting any kind of home improvement work to be carried out is to ensure they get quotes from reputable companies which, generally, do not cold call."

Hartlepool council's environmental action team is also monitoring the situation.

In the past, tonnes of rubble, which is believed to have resulted from block paving works on driveways across the town, has been dumped on open land in the town, leaving the council to pick up the £10,000 clean-up bill.

Residents who do receive a doorstep approach are being urged to provide trading standards with a description of any vehicles, including their registration numbers. They can be contacted on (01429) 523362.

* The Northern Echo last year launched its Doorsteppers campaign to crack down on bogus tradesmen and cold callers in the region.