THOUSANDS of stickers are about to go up in houses around the county in a bid to deter salesmen cold calling on the doorstep.

The double-sided stickers warn doorstep sellers that they are "Not welcome here".

The reverse side features North Yorkshire County Council's Trading Standards Doorstep Crime Hotline number in case residents have any problems.

Last year, the council - in conjunction with The Northern Echo - launched a campaign to raise awareness of bogus callers and salesmen.

The Echo's Doorsteppers campaign was launched last November in a bid to crack down on unscrupulous tradesmen.

It has won backing from police and trading standards officials throughout the NorthEast.

Councillor Carl Les, the county council's executive officer for trading standards, said: "This will hopefully send out a very strong message to doorstep sellers that they are not welcome in North Yorkshire.

"We are distributing tens of thousands of these stickers to shops and offices and other outlets across the county. I hope that callers will respect householders' wishes and not call where they see these signs, but we will have to wait and see.

"Every day, trading standards and police receive calls from householders who have been duped by hard pressure doorstep sellers or bogus callers.

"Despite the county council's massive doorstep crime campaign, incidents continue to be reported day in, day out."

Supplies of the door stickers are available by contacting the council on 0845 3303313.