Eagle-eyed residents helped snare a group suspected of using threats and emotional blackmail to sell sub-standard goods door-to-door.

Police received almost 50 complaints from people in the Eastbourne area who said they had been visited by intimidating salesmen last week.

One man called at homes in East Dean last Monday with a holdall stuffed with over-priced goods including poor quality dusters for £6 and car-cleaning sponges for £9.99 a pair.

When residents said he was not welcome in the village, which has been designated an official 'no cold-calling' zone, he became aggressive.

Dave Goldsmith, East Dean and Friston Neighbourhood Watch scheme's communication officer, called in police after he was contacted by worried members in Michel Dene Road, Elven Lane, Summerdown Lane, Hillside and Deneside.

Mr Goldsmith, a retired BBC engineer, said: "I had calls from several people who said he was swearing and threatening them.

"I spoke to one person who'd had a knock on the door and said he'd seen them going off down a particular road, so I called the co-ordinator for that street.

"As we were talking he looked out of his window and the man was walking up his driveway, so we were able to direct the police straight to them.

"We've got a fairly good communication system and this shows how useful it can be."

Officers from Eastbourne CID arrested 14 men for causing a public nuisance and selling without a licence. Drugs and the substandard goods were seized in the raid.

Police said residents complained they had been subjected to emotional blackmail by the salesmen, who told them they would not eat if they did not earn any cash.

Detective Inspector Ian Williams from Eastbourne CID said: "Although this matter could be seen by some to be trivial, the amount of calls we received showed that the actions of these people were causing concern to a large amount of people which included elderly residents.

"It is an offence to sell door-to-door without a certified peddler's certificate and this legislation was brought into place to prevent what these people have been doing.

"We will not tolerate any behaviour that intimidates the communities we serve."