THE campaign to close the door on crooks who cold-call their victims to sell shoddy or unnecessary home repairs has received a major boost.

An MP from Leicestershire has introduced a Bill to Parliament which could result in calls for changes to the law - supported by The Northern Echo's Doorstoppers campaign - becoming successful.

Andrew Robathan's Bill, which is supported by Paul Truswell, MP for Pudsey, West Yorkshire, is due for a reading in the House of Commons on March 13.

It demands a total ban on the cold calling of any work connected with property repairs, maintenance and improvement, including uninvited double glazing salespeople.

News of the Bill being introduced comes two months after The Northern Echo joined forces with trading standards officials and the police to call for changes to the law.

Next week, a seminar will be held in Westminster to highlight the problems of doorstep crime.

Around 150 people, including 60 MPs and peers are expected to attend Wednesday's event to hear the arguments for outlawing doorstep selling of any work connected with property repairs, maintenance and improvement.

Ron Gainsford, chief executive of the Trading Standards Institute said: "Vulnerable people - particularly the elderly - are being bullied, tricked, intimidated and threatened into paying extortionate amounts of money for work that is either shoddy or unnecessary.

Full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.