Residents in Didcot are following the example of people in Oxford by putting up signs warning against canvassing for business in the area.

Areas around King Alfred Drive and Edinburgh Drive will be the first area in South Oxfordshire to have a "No Cold Caller Zone".

Police claim such schemes elsewhere have reduced burglaries by 40%.

'Treated with suspicion'

A police spokesman said: "Should any seller still decide to call, the advice is they should be treated with suspicion and trading standards or the police should be contacted.

"National surveys shows 90% of people do not want sales people calling at their home.

"More importantly there is a clear link between bogus callers and burglaries."

Several parts of Oxford city have already banned doorstep callers.