TRADING standards and police are on alert after a team of street sellers led by a convicted trader began operating in Blackburn town centre.

Patrick Jarrett and his colleagues were seen by the Evening Telegraph yesterday selling postcard-sized booklets containing 12 poems, two puzzles and three jokes for £2 each.

Today police and trading standards confirmed they were looking into the incident to see if any offence was being committed.

Trading standards bosses sent out staff to make a "test purchase" and warned people to ensure that any products they were offered represented value for money before parting with their cash.

Head of environmental health and trading standards at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Chris Allen, said: "People should always think carefully before handing money over if they are approached in the street.

"While the majority of traders are honest, an unscrupulous minority will seek to make money by pretending to sell charity goods, fake or dangerous items.

"Our advice is simple, if you're in doubt walk away."

Jarrett, has previously been convicted for collecting without a permit in Manchester in 2003.

He told an undercover licensing officer he was collecting cash for charity to buy wheelchairs although he has since failed to produce any evidence to back up the claim.

When he was approached by the Evening Telegraph yesterday he said his latest offering was not connected to charity and was purely a "legal and above board business venture."

According to the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982 it is perfectly legal to sell newspapers and periodicals on the street and the back of the small booklet states it is the first edition of a quarterly publication, which would fall into the category of a periodical.

It reveals the booklets are is "Printed and Published by UM Printers" listed as a London address, which Jarrett said was merely a PO Box address.

He said the books were published in Blackpool although he would not confirm how many were produced or how much it cost to produce each one.

Town Centre sergeant Rachel Baines said: "The police in conjunction with trading standards and licensing will investigate all complaints concerning street trading in Blackburn.

"We will certainly be watching for any vendors that have previously operated illegally and will take positive action against anyone found committing any offences.

"The offences surrounding street trading are not straight forward and each incidence has to be treated individually.

"We would like to take this opportunity to encourage members of the public to contact the Town Centre Police station or Trading standards if they have any concerns about street trading and to report anything suspicious to PS Rachel Baines on 01254 51212 or contact crime stoppers on 0800 555 111."