Suspected rogue builders offered to tarmac driveways without providing a necessary cooling off period, it has been reported.

Sherborne Neighbourhood Policing Team has received two reports of persons offering to tarmac driveways in the north Dorset town without providing the necessary 14 days cooling off period to cancel the agreement.

Although cold calling is not illegal, Dorset Police have issued advice to protect householders from rogue traders.

*Any trader that ignores a sticker or notice on your door stating that you do not wish to receive cold calls may be committing a criminal offence.

*Any trader that ignores any requests by you to leave and not return is committing a criminal offence.

*Anyone who does cold call and offers to sell you goods or services that cost more than £42 must provide you with a written notice giving you 14 days to cancel the agreement. Anyone who fails to give this notice will also be committing a criminal offence, which Trading Standards can investigate.

A spokesman said: "Our advice is never to deal with cold callers.

"Cold calling is a favourite method of rogue traders whose only aim is to get as much money from their victims as possible.

"Even if you avoid dealing with rogue traders, those who cold call will usually be persuasive and often catch you when you least expect it and your guard is down.

"It is difficult to make the right buying decision on your doorstep, and they know this."

You can request an uninvited doorstep trader sticker from the Trading Standards website at https://orlo.uk/HkR28