TENANTS of Stroud District Council are being warned to ignore letters from a company claiming to offer a free solar panel check and service.

The letters, addressed to 'the householder’ claim that warranties may be due to expire, and urges recipients to call a free number so they can be 'validated'.

Stroud District Council’s housing department was alerted to the letter by a council tenant who phoned to see if the letter was genuine.

“All council homes that have solar panels installed are serviced and maintained by Low Carbon Exhange (LCX) on our behalf,” said Stroud District Council’s head of contract services, Joe Gordon.

“We’ve never heard of ESE and they certainly are not allowed to tamper with the council’s solar panels. Tenants should put the letters straight in their recycling bin."

Private householders who receive an unsolicited letter about their solar PV are urged check with their energy company or installer before taking up any offer.