A power company is facing the wrath of Government minister Gerry Sutcliffe and the energy watchdog over its doorstep selling techniques in Bradford.

Irate customer Claire McNab contacted Energy Watch after three home visits in 16 months from agents representing Npower, asking her to switch her gas supply to them.

Miss McNab, of Sapgate Lane, Thornton, is an Npower electricity customer but has her gas supplied by another company.

Miss McNab, 41, said: "They come to the door and give some spiel like 'We're here to see if you are getting your regional discount'.

"But when you push them they say the visit is about switching gas supplier. The regulations are clear they have to say up front what the purpose of their visit is.

"I can send them packing but I have elderly neighbours who may not be able to do that so easily."

Miss McNab said different agents had visited in March and August last year and again on July 1 this year. After each visit she had complained to Npower.

Consumer minister and Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he was appalled by the company's techniques and said it should follow a code of practice.

"This has been raised in parliament and by several select committees and this kind of hard selling should not be happening," he said.

Carlene Golightly, Energy Watch's North-East manager, said Miss McNab had made a complaint which they had taken up with Npower.

A spokesman for Npower said: "We are sorry if we upset Miss McNab by calling three times and we will inform our sales office that she does not wish to be visited.

"As Miss McNab lives in a property which has always been supplied electricity by us, our sales advisers would approach her as an old regional electricity customer who could receive discounts with us by taking both fuels or paying by direct debit.

"I am sorry if Miss McNab found this to be misleading or our questions to see if she qualified intrusive. All of our sales agents are trained to the Energysure standard as we are members of the AES code of practice for face-to-face marketing of energy supply."