TRADING standards chiefs today issued a warning as an elderly widow recovered from a four-hour sales visit.

Two salesmen called on the York pensioner who answered a letter saying she had won a "no obligation" mobility scooter demonstration.

They arrived at 4pm, but left at 8pm when the 74-year-old's son came to check on the woman, who the family do not wish to be identified.

Finding his Tang Hall mother "frozen stiff" with papers in her hands, he ordered the duo away.

But the company, Oxfordshire-based Craftmatic UK, phoned the pensioner at 10pm to check the salesmen were still there and said they were waiting for an order.

Son-in-law Michael Bulmer blasted the firm's tactics. However, the company said the salesmen would have left immediately if asked.

But Mr Bulmer, 42, said: "If that's not high-pressure selling then I don't know what is."

The Fulford resident added: "They were nice enough blokes, not aggressive, but my mother-in-law just could not get rid of them.

"The price of the scooter came down from £4,000 to £1,600, but they new she couldn't afford one. She doesn't need one. When she does she'll get one on her own terms.

"Now she's nervous and on edge. Hopefully she'll get over it in a few weeks, but she doesn't feel safe. She still won't answer the phone."

Tim Hamilton, Craftmatic complaints manager, said he would investigate salesmen who did not leave a home when asked.

The timing of the 10pm call was "unfortunate" it was policy to check by phone a visit had ended.

Mr Hamilton added: "We served the appointment in good faith after the lady demonstrated an interest in our product. We provide a quality product and have in excess of 800,000 satisfied customers."

Mr Bulmer said the Abingdon firm has agreed to remove his mother-in-law's phone number from its records.

Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards confirmed they had received complaints of a similar nature about Craftmatic and had met with the company to discuss them since last February.

Mr Harrison denied a meeting with trading standards about such complaints had taken place during his 30 months at the firm.

When pressed if any meetings had been held before that period, he refused to comment. City of York Council confirmed a complaint was received about the incident.

Matt Boxall, acting principal trading standards officer, said: "Don't be pressured into signing a one-off deal. Reputable companies will always give you time to think things over."

Updated: 10:38 Friday, March 19, 2004