CALLINGTON Town Council and Devon and Cornwall Police have joined together to warn householders in the community of an influx of aggressive door to door traders.

A number of residents have reported aggressive behaviour from a group of street traders who have tried to gain entry to houses selling items from backpacks while claiming to having just been released from prison and needing to feed a young child.

The town council said three properties were targeted in the Tavistock Road area on April 17 before the group then arrived at St Ive on the A390 between Callington and Liskeard.

Callington town councillor Andrew Long said:?'A number of residents felt concerned for their safety because of the over-confrontational nature of some of these door to door traders who seemed to take offence if they were denied access to the house.

'We understand the police were called on two occasions following incidents at separate houses and it is important that householders know what to do in these circumstances.'

The town council said these traders had no right to enter your property uninvited and urged all residents if they were not happy or uncomfortable to deny them entry and ask them to leave their property and land.

'If they refuse to do so, or use threatening behaviour, lock your doors and dial the police on 999,' said the council.

'There are a host of reputable street traders and these few individuals are ruining their reputation.'

Sgt Julian Collison, of Callington Police Station, said: 'I would ask that anybody who has a visit from these traders, even if they do not feel intimidated, contact the police on our non-emergency number, 101.

'This will give us the opportunity to challenge the traders and confirm their identity.

'Due to the very mobile nature of their business, it is very difficult to locate them without reporting of their locations by the public,' added Sgt Collison.