Residents in two parts of Edinburgh have voted to make their areas "No Cold-Calling Zones" to tackle the crime associated with doorstep selling. The three-month pilot has been launched in Portobello and Cramond.
It aims to protect vulnerable people from bogus callers, high-pressure sales people and burglars who try to distract householders on the doorstep.
Edinburgh City Council said if the pilot was successful, it would be rolled out across the city.
The scheme will cover 100 homes across the two areas.
A consultation with residents revealed that 78% had been cold called in the past month and about a quarter had previously suffered a bad experience of cold-calling.
People living in Portobello and Cramond have now been given a pack including stickers indicating their refusal to buy goods from doorstep sellers.
Signs have also gone up in the two areas, indicating that they have chosen to have No Cold-Calling Zone status.
Local councillor Sheila Gilmore said: "We need to do everything possible to protect people from certain unscrupulous individuals who pose as door-to-door sellers in order to steal from them.
"Elderly and vulnerable members of the community are particularly at risk, and these pilot No Cold-Calling Zones are an excellent initiative to combat this type of crime."
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Victims of this type of crime are quite often traumatised by the events and are left fearful of every caller to their home.
"If the setting up of the 'No Cold-Calling' areas deters criminals from operating then perhaps some of the victims of this callous type of crime will feel a bit safer within their own homes."
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Victims of this type of crime are quite often traumatised by the events and are left fearful of every caller to their home
