RESIDENTS have been warned to be vigilant after official looking leaflets offering subsidies for roofing work have been distributed across Dudley borough.

Dozens of people have received leaflets claiming that subsidies of up to 40 percent are available for pensioners on roofing treatment works.

However the leaflets are nothing to do with Dudley Council and there is no Government subsidy available for the work.

The leaflets promote 'roof coating' work as an alternative to re-roofing and claim to make roofs 'maintenance free' for up to 20 years.

Similar claims have been investigated by Trading Standards and found to be fraudulent.

Last year, the council’s trading standards team successfully prosecuted the directors and sales staff from Therma Seal UK and Therma Seal (Thermal Coatings) UK for falsely claiming that roof coating was a low cost alternative to re-roofing and making false energy saving claims.

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We’re asking people to keep their wits about them whenever they receive promotional flyers for work to their home or garden.

“If people are concerned or if they know or someone who has fallen victim to roof coating scams they can contact our trading standards team or they can view our list of approved traders under the Fix-A-Home Scheme.”

For more information call trading standards on 01384 812045 or to view the council’s list of approved traders visit www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/your-council/trading-standards/fix-a-home.