TENANTS in the region are being warned to be on their guard against doorstep canvassers offering quick repairs.

The warning comes from trading standards officers at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council after salesmen targeted council house tenants in the east Cleveland area.

The salesmen claimed they had links with the council and a Government scheme and offered to make a claim against the landlord at no cost to the tenant.

However, the tenant is asked to sign for a loan that covers the cost of running the claim as well as insurance to cover the loan and contribute to other costs.

Chief Trading Standards Officer Jeff Bell said: "We had problems with these doorstep canvassers last summer and now it seems they are recruiting canvassers again.

"We believe they are not interested in effecting repairs, but in trying to win large amounts of compensation from the council, and overloading the system with a glut of repair claims.

"In general, the council's systems are more than capable of coping with a normal flow of repair claims, but these people are deliberately trying to cash in when resources cannot match short-term demand.

"We are distributing an information sheet to all tenants this week and are concerned that those targeted by the canvassers are amongst the most vulnerable in the borough. If anyone claims to be offering you something for nothing, be wary. If you have already signed up, contact us and we may be able to help."

The number to ring is (01642) 475526.