CRIMINALS could take advantage of the chaos caused by the recent storms, people are being warned.

With tiles being ripped of roofs and trees felled by the wind, North Yorkshire County Council and Humberside Police have warned homeowners to be on their guard for conmen looking to cash in.

In a recent case in Hambleton, an elderly man paid out more than £50,000 after workmen called at his house, told him there was damage to his roof and then carried out shoddy repairs.

Coun John Fort, the county council's executive member with responsibility for trading standards, said: "It is an unfortunate fact that bad weather is often followed by rising reports of tricksters duping householders into paying over the odds for unnecessary work to their homes."

"A common ploy is for workmen to scour areas for vulnerable victims and knock on their doors, alleging that tiles or chimney stacks are loose.

"While it is undoubted that the severe weather can sometimes cause structural damage, all too often the work undertaken is unnecessary or severely overcharged."

He said householders should only use traders they know for home repairs or use workmen from an accredited list of traders.

Humberside Police have issued similar advice with a spokesman warning people against buying anything from door-to-door traders and speaking to a friend or family member before signing a contract or agreeing to any work being done.