IT'S National Consumer week next week - November 10 to November 14. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of consumer rights.This year's theme is Community Safety, and City of York Trading Standards is keen to let local residents know what we have been doing throughout the year to promote community safety, and that advice on consumer problems is always available from the department.

Motor Traders' Fair Trading Scheme - this is a partnership between York Trading Standards and some of the city's motor traders committed to fair, open and honest trading practices. Many members of the scheme have been offering a free 26-point 'winter check' including checks on tyres, lights and vital fluids serving brakes and power steering.

Underage Sales - we have undertaken two exercises this year on the sale of alcohol to under-18s. We were disappointed with the results; almost half the businesses visited sold alcohol to children. The sellers face legal action. On a similar theme we are checking to see whether local traders are selling fireworks to under-18s. The problems with people misusing fireworks are hitting the local headlines on an almost daily basis. We hope our work will stop some fireworks falling into the wrong hands.

Safety Issues - we have carried out a number of safety projects including a survey of garage forecourts for unroadworthy cars and testing more than 300 electric blankets in use within the city.

Over half the blankets tested failed the safety tests applied, mainly due to lack of protection against overheating in older blankets. We will be repeating the electric blanket testing exercise in early December.

The Home Services Directory - this is an innovative scheme designed to protect older people from being exploited by unscrupulous traders. It was set up by City of York Council, Age Concern (York), the Safer York Partnership and North Yorkshire Police to provide older people with access to a list of traders such as builders, joiners and electricians who have undergone a rigorous assessment process, providing reference and police checks. Free copies of the list are available from Trading Standards.

Intelligence-Led Projects - closely monitoring information from consumer complaints and from field officers enables us to identify and tackle the conduct of the most complained-about traders in York. We are focusing enforcement resources where they are most needed and identifying honest traders who would benefit from advice and support.

For further information on any of our work, or for advice on consumer issues, contact City of York Council Trading Standards Consumer Advice Service. We are situated at 9 St Leonard's Place, York.

Telephone 01904 551562 for advice or to make an appointment. You can also visit our website at www.york.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, November 06, 2003