SPECIALIST officers dedicated to stamping out loan sharks are targeting Scarborough in a new campaign.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team has joined North Yorkshire County Council and Scarborough Borough Council to raise awareness of the dangers of loan sharks.

They will speak to Barrowcliff Residents Association, train frontline staff at Yorkshire Coast Homes, and visit homes in Eastfield to offer information and advice about illegal money lending.

Lee Colclough, Housing Services Manager at Yorkshire Coast Homes, said: “Loan sharks can blight the lives of our residents, deliberately targeting the vulnerable and causing misery and fear in people. We are fully behind this campaign and are pleased to have the opportunity to help rid our communities of this cruel and wicked crime”