A team of Continental con-men have been making life a misery for holidaymakers - after they return from their break in the sun.

Coming home to a waiting mountain of mail, they have discovered some unwanted surprises lurking among the letters.

For the tricksters have come up a cheeky scam that could easily catch out the unwary - with traffic fines for offences that were never committed.

A number of people from across North Yorkshire and beyond have returned from their holidays in the Canary Islands telling them of an outstanding traffic fine.

It relates to their stay in the sun-drenched islands and demands the sum of 108 Euros - or about £72 at the current rate of exchange.

In one case the astonished recipient immediately realised it was a con because he had never driven a vehicle while away on his holiday.

However trading standards officials fear that the threatening nature of the letter may lead to some unsuspecting people sending off the cash. And they are now urging all holidaymakers returning from a break in Spain to be aware of what it going on.

So far it is known that the letters may be signed by Juan Carlos Jemenez and come from a company calling itself Medio de Corte Credito Recoudale Estorbar Exiyir.

A further version is signed by Miguel Walbery from a company called Deuda Recaudar Alguacil Y Exigir Servicios (DRAYES).

Besides not paying the requested sum trading standards officers are advising anyone who has received such a letter to get in touch, as a liaison mechanism has been set up in this country to advise Spanish authorities about the extent of the problem.

North Yorkshire's executive member for trading standards, Carl Les, said: "We are constantly surprised by the ingenuity of scams that are visited upon the honest British public.

"This one is particularly nasty because it gives people little time to question the fine and we fear people may just pay the amount believing it is a genuine."

Anyone receiving such a letter is asked to get in touch with the trading standards team on 0845 330 3313." Further information can be obtained from the website www.ukinspain.com/english/consularservice/becareful.asp.