Residents are being advised to be cautious when receiving leaflets or cold calls from people offering outdoor maintenance services.

Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team is reminding householders to be wary of offers of gardening and exterior work, roofing, guttering, patio cleaning and similar jobs, as more people get outside in the warmer weather.

They advise against agreeing to work from these unexpected calls, especially if the callers are persistent or say urgent repairs are needed.

Their advice includes being aware of tactics like unscheduled callers claiming to notice your garden or roof requires attention, or saying they have leftover materials from another job in the area.

They also warn against those offering to accompany you to the bank or ATM.

The trading standards team encourage taking a moment to consider before parting with money or information, trusting your instincts, and verifying any contracts with trusted friends or family members.

When considering work, homeowners are advised to get multiple detailed quotes in writing, complete with full contact information and a breakdown of the scheduled work.

They also recommended being cautious if asked to make a large upfront deposit.

For bigger projects, an agreement on when staged payments will be made and what work should be completed before any payment is recommended.

The trading standards team recommends using an approved trader from their Buy with Confidence scheme.