ROGUE traders could be outlawed by proposals going through Parliament backed by Southampton MP Alan Whitehead.

The aim is to allow courts to ban unscrupulous and dishonest workers from plying their business and preying on vulnerable householders.

But Southampton Test MP Mr Whitehead admits the Rogue Traders Bill is unlikely to become law because there is not enough time to discuss it.

He said authorities had limited powers to crack down on people such as door-to-door salesmen using bullying tactics and cowboy builders.

The Labour MP said: "I know from my advice surgeries the misery that dishonest traders can cause, especially to the more vulnerable in our community.

"We need to close this loophole that allows a trader who defrauds an elderly person of their life savings to continue trading.

"At the moment, a trader can start up again after a fine or even a prison sentence for unscrupulous trading practices.

"Too many do just that."

Mr Whitehead said the Bill would give local authority trading standards teams the power to seek a banning order on individuals through the county court.

"It's time to crack down on the unscrupulous that prey on innocent consumers."

He said the Bill had received approval to move forward but that the main aim was to persuade the government to incorporate the proposals into its plans to tighten laws protecting consumers.