A major campaign to target con men who prey on the elderly was launched in Chelmsford on Thursday.

It brought immediate praise from the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Dr Kim Howell, who said: "I welcome this initiative. I deplore unscrupulous doorstep selling."

Trading Standards, police, social services, district councils and Age Concern have united in the crackdown.

One of the most appalling doorstep crimes was the recent incident in which an 89-year-old Springfield widow, who had saved £3,000 for her funeral, had the cash stolen by tricksters.

The sorry saga continued this week as police sought a trickster who stole £80 from an 88-year-old Heybridge widow after claiming to have completed work on her roof.

There have been similar incidents all over mid-Essex as con men pose as water, gas and electricity workers, invariably picking on vulnerable elderly people.

Essex Trading Standards yesterday launched a Doorstep Do's and Dont's Campaign at County Hall, Chelmsford.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: "The campaign is the first of its kind in Essex and gives householders advanced warning when rogue traders are operating in their area.

"It is supported by a network of organisations which share information and alert Trading Standards or the police when there is a need for action."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.