7:00pm Sunday 17th June 2012
Rogue traders have been preying on flooding victims by offering bogus repairs to their destroyed homes.
Residents in Littlehampton have reported fraudsters appearing on doorsteps and offering to do emergency work on the cheap.
Trading standards officers have urged vulnerable flood victims to say no to the cold-callers.
Christine Field, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said: “Whenever an emergency of this nature occurs, it seems to bring unscrupulous traders out of the woodwork who prey on the vulnerable.
“If you do need emergency work done to your property, ignore the claims of bogus callers if they turn up at your door.”
The news comes as forecasters warned of further downpours.
Crews from the Environment Agency are still pumping out floodwaters in the Manhood Peninsula area that covers Bracklesham, Medmerry and Earnley.
An incident command centre has been set up in Bracklesham to coordinate clean-up efforts.
Arun District Council is holding information days for communities in areas that have experienced the worst of the flooding.
They are being held at Felpham, Elmer, Littlehampton, Barnham, Wick and South Bersted, from Friday until Wednesday, visiting one location each day.
In Littlehampton, a charity shop has been filled with donations from residents and local businesses.
Leigh Kilhams, who helped co-ordinate the appeal on Facebook, said: “We felt we had to do something.
"We have got boxes and boxes full of clothes, toiletries and food.
“Tesco donated over £1,000 worth of clothes – they gave us four trolleys and just told us to grab what we wanted.
“It’s been incredible.”
The group are encouraging flood-hit families to go to the Raydar shop on Evans Garden and take whatever emergency provisions they need
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