TRADING standards chiefs in Hartlepool are urging people who buy goods on the Internet to brush up on their consumer rights.

The warning comes after a flood of complaints from residents who have experienced problems with online purchasing.

A trading standards investigation also revealed widespread flouting of new consumer protection legislation, which was introduced to police sales on the Internet.

Officers posing as shoppers bought a range of items from a number of websites only to encounter a lack of information about their rights.

About 60 per cent of traders failed to tell customers of their cancellation rights while about 50 per cent did not include vital business information.

A spokesman for Hartlepool Borough Council's trading standards section said: "Consumers may not often be aware that they have extra rights when buying over the Internet.

"For many types of purchases a seven day cooling off period exists following receipt of the goods during which time the buyer can cancel the contract.

"Our survey has revealed that many websites are not telling consumers they have this right of cancellation."

Guidance on Internet purchasing is available from www.hartlepool.gov.uk or from the civic centre.