Residents of Shotton Colliery are to be given stickers to place in their windows warning cold callers that they are not welcome.

Street signs displaying the same message will also be put up at various points in the neighbourhood.

The zone will run hand-in-hand with an area already covered by the village's Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

It has been set up following work done by the county council's trading standards department, which found that 97% of those asked did not welcome uninvited visits on the doorstep.

'A clear message'

Sgt Dave Young, crime prevention officer for the north area command, said: "Shotton has no bigger problem with cold calling than anywhere else, but its size and location made it an ideal place to launch the first zone.

"We believe this will send a clear message to rogue traders and conmen that they are not wanted in Shotton Colliery."

The signs are aimed at rogue traders, or bogus officials, however they will also deter legitimate companies employing cold calling tactics.

The energy company Npower said in statement: "Our sales teams are instructed to look out for all notices when approaching homes and not to knock if clearly stated.

"Many different industries and companies use door sales agents as an effective means of direct sales - in fact thousands of people have actually made savings from buying a range of products at the door."