AN organisation set up to help people sort out consumer problems has taken more than 40,000 calls in its first three months.

Consumer Direct was set up in Yorkshire and the Humber to take the pressure off trading standards officials.

It gives people advice on how to deal with complaints they have against shops and other traders.

The most-complained about topic in the region is home improvements.

One in 10 calls are about matters such as double glazing, fitted kitchens, roof repairs and general household maintenance.

These complaints range from selling techniques, being overcharged, shoddy repairs and doorstep sellers pushing improvements.

Other hot consumer issues that callers seek advice on include sales of second-hand cars, holiday complaints and faulty electrical items.

If the caller needs more help, or the complaint is of a serious or criminal nature, the person is referred to other organisations for help.

Often this involves trading standards.

Consumer Direct is based at Morley, near Leeds, and created 28 jobs when it was set up. More staff will now be taken on.

Consumer Direct manager John Field said "Not only have a staggering number of calls been answered, but 96% of them were answered within 20 seconds.

"On average, each caller has only to wait eight seconds before their call is answered by an adviser."

Clr Malcolm Slater, chairman of West Yorkshire Joint Services, which deals with consumer issues for all the main councils, said: "Consumer Direct has brought incredible benefits to consumers.

"Trading standards staff can now concentrate on the more serious cases and helping the more vulnerable consumers.

"This can only be a benefit to both consumers and legitimate businesses throughout West Yorkshire."

* Consumer Direct can be contacted on 0845 040506 between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Or log on to www.consumerdirect. gov.uk