Consumer affairs minister and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe is spearheading a major consultation as part of a crackdown on conmen.

Mr Sutcliffe wants to hear from shoppers concerned about aggressive doorstep selling, scams requiring competition 'winners' to call premium-rate numbers and bogus 'closing-down' sales.

Stores which encourage children to persuade their parents to buy products for them are also coming under the minister's spotlight.

All of these practices will be outlawed under the European Commission's unfair commercial practices directive.

And Mr Sutcliffe said he wants Bradford people to have their say on how they believe the new measures should be used.

He said: "Whether shopping from the high street, home or online, consumers have a right to be sold to honestly and fairly. For the vast majority of honest traders this is good news: they will now have one clear reference point and be able to operate more easily across the EU.

"Unscrupulous traders often prey on the elderly and housebound and I'm particularly pleased that when these new protections are in place they will help protect some of these most vulnerable people.

"I want consumers and businesses to give us their views on how we can best implement this important legislation in the UK."

He said other examples of poor practice include advertising unavailable products at low prices to attract consumers in order to then sell them higher priced goods, and falsely claiming consumers will get a better deal if they sign up immediately to prevent them buying elsewhere.

He warned: "Life is going to get a lot tougher for the small minority of rogue traders out there who will use underhand tactics to part people with their money."

The consultation will seek the views of consumers and businesses on how to implement the legislation in the UK.

It will prohibit many practices, especially aggressive ones, which may currently be seen as unfair but are not yet illegal.