TRAVELLERS selling three-piece suites from the back of a van faced a long walk home after the vehicle was seized.

Their vehicle was impounded by Revenue and Customs after examiners found it was running on red diesel, which is used mainly in agriculture and the construction industry and not for use in road vehicles.

The owner now faces a hefty fine, and even the risk of imprisonment.

Revenue and Customs moved in after Cleveland Police carried out a stop check on the van as it travelled through the Priestfields housing area of Middlesbrough.

The multi-agency Operation Strongbow, involving police, customs officials and Middlesbrough's trading standards department, swung into operation following complaints from residents about cold-callers selling furniture.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police received a number of complaints from members of the public regarding people selling furniture from the rear of Transit vans.

"The Operation Strongbow team is advising all members of the public not to deal with cold-callers.''

The Northern Echo launched its Doorstoppers campaign in 2003, seeking legislation to make it a criminal offence for rogue callers to turn up at a house unannounced.

The campaign has the support of police and trading standards officials across the North-East.