Trading standards officials in Hartlepool are looking to take action against cowboy builders.
People searching for trading standards vacancies may be interested in Hartlepool Council's warning for people in the area to beware of unannounced roofers claiming that they will deal with problems with their homes immediately.
Michael Welsh, principal trading standards officer, tells the Hartlepool Mail that regardless of what "horror stories" they are told, homeowners should not allow such people to do any work on their home.
And in the event that their property is in need of repairs, consumers should contact their insurance provider and seek out multiple quotes from reputable traders.
"Some of these so-called roofers are opportunists who will use the recent bad weather as an excuse to do work that doesn't need to be done and charge excessive prices for it," he claims.
The initiative comes as earlier this month the Trading Standards Institute pointed out criminals - under the pretence of repairing frozen piping - are entering people's homes and stealing goods.
