A HOAX chain letter appealing for business cards to be sent to a sick child so that he can get in the Guinness Book of Records, has been slammed by Trading Standards officers.

The letter has re-emerged in Lancashire asking for cards to be sent to terminally ill Richard, Craig or John at various addresses in Shelby Road, Carshalton, Surrey.

County coun Don Yates said that the letter should be ignored as the original plea dates back 12 years and ended when a child in the Carshalton area recovered from his illness.

He added: "Variations of this chain letter and address periodically reappear and have been used to obtain business information which has then been used to target firms with unsolicited goods and services.

"Lancashire Trading Standards Department last warned businesses against a similar letter about two years ago and it's back.

"Please do not waste time and postage in responding to the present chain-letter which is doing the rounds in the county."

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