West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas has warned people on the Lizard Peninsula to be wary of a cold caller making "misleading" calls about the need for loft insulation.

It comes after Mr Thomas was contacted by a Mullion resident, who said that a number of villagers had been contacted by the same person.

She told him: "The caller has a very strong, hard-line sell method. He says that there is a new government law that all houses have to have new loft insulation and that the insulation used at the moment will be illegal by 2020.

"He is very persuasive and very believable. He says that all houses in the UK will be inspected in 2020 and that all rafters have to be foam sprayed with specialist equipment. One person on the Facebook page was quoted £9,000."

After raising the issue with Trading Standards, Mr Thomas said: "I’ve checked and Trading Standards have confirmed that it is misleading for anyone to claim that the government is demanding that homes must be insulated.

"There is a requirement for landlords to get the properties they rent up to a certain level of insulation, but that will have no effect on homeowners.

"In this case, it does sound as if the caller is trying to scare people into making an expensive and unnecessary purchase – if you do receive a call, please remember that you are not obliged to buy insulation from anyone.

"If you do need help in insulating your home, your energy provider is obliged to give you sound advice on what to do."