A NEW online directory has been set up by a Worcester resident in an effort to keep cowboy traders at bay.

James Plimmer, of Warndon Villages, has launched www.honesttrader.net to provide detailed information about tradesmen in the West Midlands.

The idea is that companies will sign up to the site and their customers will then post reviews on the work they have had done.

And as the work will be checked personally by honest trader, only genuine reviews will make it onto the site.

"I was fed up of not having anywhere to go for help when I needed work doing," said Mr Plimmer, a teacher by day.

"I would have to go to countless friends and relatives to see if they could recommend someone and more often than not, I would still be none the wiser.

"Rogue traders and limited adverts have become a common problem as programmes such as Watchdog and Brassed Off Britain show. Many customers are left with shoddy work or have been ripped off.

"Now people can go to one site and know they can find a reliable person to do the job by reading the reviews and also looking at photographs of the work.

"The best thing is that traders from, partnerships, small, medium and large scale businesses can all display their work."

honesttrade.net was only set up this month but is already attracting the attention of firms and customers alike.

"A lot of firms eager to make a good name for themselves were quick to sign up and there are quite a few reviews on there too," added Mr Plimmer.

"Some of my friends have been on it and they think it is a great idea. All I need now is for more people to find out about it and benefit from it."