Police and council officials were alerted by customers of a man claiming to offer plumbing and building services to disabled residents.

The trader is claiming to be from Redcar's Shopmobility service.

One woman turned up at Shopmobility asking when work would start at her home, after paying a �500 cash deposit.

Shopmobility schemes are available all over the UK and offer a variety of help and services for the disabled.

'Promised work'

Redcar's Shopmobility manager Clare O'Connor said: "I am very angry.

"We've had maybe a dozen calls over the last three to four weeks from people who say they have been approached by someone asking for cash deposits and not doing promised work.

"My concern is that Shopmobility is a service provided for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable and we don't want to be associated with these type of people."

The so-called company is also using Shopmobility's red, yellow and grey letterhead from its newsletter, replacing Shopmobility with Redcar Plumbing and Building Specialists.

The council's trading standards officer Deborah Holmes said: "This is a despicable act and we are extremely concerned.

"It highlights the problem of doorstep sellers and rogue traders, who turn up offering services that simply never materialise.

"We would advise people not to deal with anyone on the doorstep."