POLICE and trading standards officers in Ryedale have establish a no cold calling zone to protect people in Kirkbymoorside who were being targeted by unwanted callers.

Signage for the zone in Ryedale View and Ryedale Crescent was put up last week, followed by officers delivering information packs to residents.

No cold calling zones are designed to discourage cold callers and reduce incidents of rogue traders and distraction burglaries by empowering residents to send callers away and inform the police or trading standards.

The driving force behind this latest zone is Police Community Support Officer Tracy Brown.

She said: “This particular area was subjected to a high level of cold callers, and we received a number of complaints from residents about doorstep callers during March and April claiming to be former offenders or soldiers selling household items.

“Working together with North Yorkshire Trading Standards and the local residents, I’m very pleased that our plans have now been put into action.

"I hope it provides reassurance for local people and gives them the confidence to send any cold callers away.”

Resident Michael Bell said: “I am relieved this has now been established making the street feel safer after being targeted by door to door sellers that left me shaken up.”

North Yorkshire County Councillor Val Arnold, member for Kirkbymoorside, said: “I welcome the creation of this no cold calling zone and the

reassurance it will bring to residents.”

There are now more than 600 no cold calling zones protecting vulnerable adults in North Yorkshire.

To report cold callers, phone trading standards on 03454 040506 or the police on 101.