Door-to-door salesmen could be told to stop bothering pensioners in a Dereham cul-de-sac after councillors backed proposals for the town's first No Cold Calling Zone.

Residents of Ascot Gardens, off South Green Gardens, have complained of unwanted visitors at all hours up to dusk despite many of their homes displaying stickers asking people not to disturb them.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said he had gathered the support of all but one of his neighbours to join the register of almost 100 No Cold Calling Zones across Norfolk.

Dereham town councillors offered support for the application to the county council at their meeting last night.

Robin Goreham said: 'He lives in a quiet cul-de-sac and it's predominantly elderly people in there and I think the problem is almost a psychological one that they worry when people knock on their doors, especially in the dark. It does prey on the nerves.'

Although the new designation would not legally prevent salesmen calling, the resident hoped it would dissuade many.