TRADING standards officers and police have launched an investigation after businesses in Pendle were asked for money to access free health and safety information.

Pendle Council today issued advice to businesses and organisations to ignore information they receive through the post from firms claiming to regulate health and safety legislation.

Environmental health officers were alerted to the problem after several concerned businesses contacted the council saying they had received mailshots requesting money in return for compliance with health and safety law. The letters, from several sources, requested businesses hand over up to £300 for information on health and safety in the workplace, most of which is already available for free.

Stuart Arnott, environmental health manager, said council officers had been aware of the scam operating in other parts of the North West earlier this year but had recently received calls from businesses in Pendle and had become aware the problem was now local.

He said: "Organisations should be very wary of approaches from any company offering such services. We have been aware of such scams affecting other parts of the country and they have obviously reached East Lancashire. Pendle Council never writes indiscriminately to firms seeking advance payment for services it has not provided.

"These companies are asking for significant sums of money claiming they will send out information, much of which is already available free of charge.

"We want to tell people as soon as possible to ignore this information, hopefully before anyone hands over any money."

Anyone requiring advice or information on health and safety at work should contact the council's environmental health service on 01282 661661 or the Health and Safety Executive's infoline on 08701 545500.

A starter pack called Health and Safety Advice for New and Small Businesses is available from HSE Books.