A COUNCILLOR has spoken out about a scam in his area.

Peter Atkinson, the representative for North Portslade, said a group is preying on residents.

People across the city have raised concerns about fake-workmen who are telling residents, usually elderly, they need their drains cleared.

Cllr Atkinson said: “Two men are preying on unsuspecting residents.

“They are trying to charge taking hundreds of pounds for work that doesn’t need doing and may well damage the drain or its cover with the so called ‘work’ that they do.”

Cllr Atkinson said he has passed this information on to the police, as have a couple of residents.

He added: “With all the disruption around the new construction site, this is the last thing that residents need.

“Residents are stressed enough already without having a couple of petty criminals trying to take their money.”

A Hove resident who lived near Goldstone Crescent and did not want to be named, said he had been a victim of the scam.