POLICE and trading standards officials are keen to talk to two salesmen going from door-to-door selling furniture.

The cut price three-piece 'leather' suites being sold from the back of a white van - heavily shrouded in polythene wrapping - are in fact PVC.

Two men are involved, sometimes working as a pair. Reports of the scam have been pouring in, from Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool.

Now residents from Guisborough and Saltburn have reported visits from the conmen, though they have not fallen for the ruse.

Michelle O'Rourke, trading standards support officer with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: "We urge residents not to buy at the door from anyone they do not know.

"The purchase of any piece of furniture shouldn't be something that's done across the doorstep," she said. "These incidents give a warning of how costly impulsive buying can be."

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "We would urge members of the public to be on guard against unscrupulous dealers and if offered leather-looking suites at knock down prices, they should be extremely suspicious."

The council dealt with bogus callers at a special Homeguard, exhibition at Sunnyfield House, Guisborough, yesterday as part of National Consumer Week.