Police are introducing "no cold-calling" zones in certain areas of Shepton Mallet in a bid to clamp down on bogus callers and rogue traders targeting the elderly and vulnerable residents.

PCSO Penny Freestone made the plea at a recent meeting of the town council for zones to be set up in certain areas of Shepton along the lines of similar operations set up in areas of Street and Taunton.

People will be issued with stickers in their windows warning callers the area was a "No Cold Calling" zone.

Banks will also be putting up stickers and cards warning people to be on their guard against rogue traders.

The new scheme will be supported by Neighbourhood Watch and will be launched initially in the Collett Avenue and Kyte Road areas.

This is in response to calls from Shepton's county councillor Margaret Robinson who lives in that area and is involved with Neighbourhood Watch there.

She was most concerned about crooks obtaining money under false pretences from elderly residents there. The scheme will then spread to Berrymans Close and Pullen and Wainwright Courts on the Ridgeway Estate and has the support of Neighbourhood Watch, the town council, Mendip District Council and Somerset County Council.

Speaking at the town council meeting Cllr Colin Lockey said: "You would have thought that with all the programmes on the TV and articles in the press about rogue traders that people would be more aware of what is happening."

He asked: "How many people out there are willing to go to a bank and draw out thousands of pounds to give to a complete stranger without any work being done? I appreciate the banks and the police are trying to eliminate this sort of thing.

"I feel very sorry for the gullible people and the elderly who fall victim to this, but we have to make people aware through the press so they understand what is happening. Despite all the publicity people will still go to a bank and take out thousands of pounds to give to complete strangers who have done no work for them at all."

The Town Council agreed to give its full support to the police in setting up the cold calling zones.

PCSO Freestone told the Journal: "If a rogue trader knocks on someone's door in a "No Cold Calling Zone" the resident can call the police and the person calling at their door uninvited is liable to be arrested.

"It takes just one phone call to us and officers will respond and deal with the person causing the occupant concern."

She said bank clerks were also being urged to call the police if they were concerned about people drawing out large sums of cash under pressure.

HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds and the Brittania Building Society in Shepton are all supporting the scheme.