A new doorstep crime team has been launched to track and crack down on rogue traders, bogus callers and distraction burglars.

Coinciding with National Rogue Trader Day, the team was out and about in Bristol yesterday following leads and checking home improvement businesses working in the city are legitimate.

The dedicated team will be made up of two police officers and a trading standards officer, aiming to make a difference in what has been a growing sector of crime over the last few years.

Yesterday, four teams, also including representatives of the Department for Work and Pensions and housing officers, went out to see if they could catch any rogue traders in the act.

A 28-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of carrying out two distraction burglaries in Grove Leaze, Shirehampton.

The police's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) team seized a car from a male without insurance during their patrol at Cribbs Causeway.

Leading the day of action, acting detective inspector Janice Pearson said: "We want to send a clear and robust message to the people who are committing these offences that these are disgusting crimes that will not be tolerated."

Alan and Margaret Williams, of Addiscombe Road, Whitchurch, are two of many people across the city having paving laid at home.

After the doorstep crime team spoke to them about the ongoing work in their front garden, which will cost more than £2,000, Mr Williams, 69, told the Post: "I think having a team like this looking out for people is a good idea. It can be hard for people to find out if a company doing work for them is legitimate."

To coincide with the roaming patrols there was a unit at Cribbs Causeway using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to catch people with warrants hanging over their heads.

Police and trading standards officers went to banks to help staff look out for suspicious transactions.

Often rogue traders will drive vulnerable or elderly victims to withdraw money to pay for work they have, or have not, done.

Advice was given at nursing homes and sheltered housing, the force's dedicated burglary car was on call to respond to break-ins and the Safer Homes service helped residents improve security.

To report a doorstep crime, call 0845 4567000.