TRADING standards bosses in Lancashire fear an old mail fraud scheme may be back in operation.

Enid Daniels of Browning Street, Hoddlesden, was shocked to receive an invoice for over £30 for a first aid kit she had never ordered.

Enid said: "I was shocked, because I had never been in touch with this company before.

"The letter makes out I have received the first aid kit, and not paid for it. But I knew I hadn't ordered a kit. I work for a surgical dressing manufacturer, so if I had wanted a kit, I would have got it from my company."

And trading standards officers have confirmed they had six reports in one day concerning the same company -- Royal Consulting, who are based in the Netherlands. The company were also being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading earlier in the year.

Enid, who works in the credit control department of Darwen-based firm Vernon-Carus Ltd, got in touch with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, who advised her to ignore the invoice.

Enid said: "It bothered me that old folk could have got this letter, because they might have paid. I work in the accounts department of the company, and I'm always on the lookout for things like this. I knew there was no way I had ordered it.

"My boss suggested I ring Trading Standards, and as soon as I mentioned who it was they said throw it away."

Until now, Trading Standards thought they had seen the last of the scheme.

Mandy Maxim, Principal Trading standards officer for Lancashire County Council said: "We did have quite a few problems last year, but it had gone quiet. But we have had around half a dozen in the area.

"What tends to happen is that there is a preliminary phone call, and there are then three scenarios. The people either agree to buy it, agree to pay on approval, or say no. But then the company send the first aid kit anyway, whatever the answer.

"Our advice is don't pay the invoices that are sent. New legislation means that if unsolicited goods are sent to somebody they can deal with them or dispose of them as if they were a gift.

"The problem with this company is that they are based in the Netherlands.

"If we can uncover a UK connection, we can take action."

Blackburn with Darwen trading standards confirmed they had had complaints in the past but no reports recently.