More than 19,000 complaints were made about builders, plumbers, electricians and other home improvement traders which totalled almost £80 million in the first three months of this year.

Consumer Direct, a government-funded telephone and online service which offers information and advice on consumer issues, logged 19,075 home maintenance complaints with a total repair value of almost £6 million.

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Complaints about building work totalled £40 million, problems with fitted kitchens reached £14 million, and central heating installation and servicing complaints topped £5.5 million.

Michele Shambrook, Operations Manager for Consumer Direct, said: "There's no foolproof way of avoiding problems, but you need to do your homework before you embark on a project, agree clear terms with the trader, and if things go wrong, check your rights and take prompt action."

(CD/JM)