Over the past year, there have been 56 reports of rogue traders operating in Plymouth.

This is Rogue Traders' week and Trading Standards wants locals to report any suspicious activity.

Yesterday police were operating random spot checks on company vehicles in Plympton. More than ninety were stopped, with one seized for being unroadworthy and penalty notices issued for offences such as having no insurance or tax.

It's feared the crime is often under reported because people may not be aware of shoddy workmanship or may feel embarrassed that they have been ripped off.

Richard Green from Plymouth's Trading Standards says one of the worst incidents they've heard was a local woman who paid more than £18,000 for work to clear her garden - the firm continually upped the bill and eventually left without completing the job.