PEOPLE are being urged to stay vigilant after a "pushy" man attempted to force gardening services on a county resident.

Longniddry Community Council shared details on its Facebook page to warn residents about the incident and urged that anything suspicious be reported to the police.

The group's post said: “We have had a report from a lady who has told us that, as her dad was working in his garden this afternoon, an English-spoken man came in his gate and stood very close to him and was shouting.

“He was very pushy and wouldn't take no for an answer when her dad turned him down to help him with his garden.

“The man also asked which town he was in. Her dad has been left quite nervous by this visit.”

The man, who looked to be in his fifties and wore a deerstalker hat with the ear coverings tied up on his head, was driving a white van with ‘Local Tree Services’ on the side but with no contact details listed.

Marilyn Young, secretary of Longniddry Community Council, said: “The recommendation is to hire somebody that you know is legitimate, otherwise there’s risk of them dumping garden waste where it shouldn’t be - they need to have a licence.

“The man was being quite aggressive. He has been spotted around East Lothian, not just in Longniddry, so everyone should be vigilant and please inform the police if spotted.”