CONSUMER watchdogs are warning people not to get involved in a chain letter which is being circulated.

The letter asks the recipient to send a £1 coin to a list of five people named in the letter, then add their own name to the list and send out the updated version of the letter to 200 people, asking them to do the same.

The letter says the recipient just has to wait for everyone to send him or her £1. The letter claims that, even if there is only a four per cent response, the recipient will receive more than £37,000.

Malcolm Graham, senior trading standards manager at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: "To anyone who hasn't come across letters like these before, it might sound tempting - but don't be fooled.

"We have investigated chain letters like these in the past, and have spoken to people who have taken part in them.

"They told us that far from the money rolling in, very few people had responded to them and they had in fact made a loss.

"Chain letters like these keep coming up time and time again, and they just bring a lot of unhappiness. The best advice we can offer is that, if you are unlucky enough to receive one of these letters, throw it in the bin straightaway."

Anyone who is concerned about a letter can contact Hartlepool's trading standards, on (01429) 523351.