North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers are launching their latest no cold-calling zone at Iburndale Lane, Fouracre Drive and Yew Tree Close.

The zones work by encouraging neighbours to support each other in resisting high pressure salespeople and bogus workmen and officials.

The scheme aims to reduce the incidents of crime against older residents as the typical victim is an elderly woman living alone. Some zones have reported a drop in doorstep crime of 80%.

The first zone was set up in Great Ayton in 2005 after residents were conned out of thousands of pounds by bogus roofers and they have since been rolled out across North Yorkshire.

Posters and labels are displayed in homes and householders have access to special phone lines to report incidents.

Signs are posted around the boundary of the zone to warn off cold-callers.

County Coun Clare Wood, executive member for trading standards and regulatory services, said: “The first zone in Sleights at Ingham Close was successful in bringing residents together to say no to cold-callers.

“The cold-callers put undue pressure on householders by having someone knocking at their door, often at dusk, trying to get them to buy something or have work done.

“Following incidents in nearby roads, the time has now come for us to widen that protection to cover more people in Sleights.”

The zones target three main criminal enterprises:

l improperly conducted property repairs or gardening maintenance

l distraction burglary (where the occupant is kept talking while the other steals valuables)

l and obtaining property by deception.