A FIRM that sold a £1,699 vacuum cleaner and air purifying system to an elderly woman living in a retirement home is being investigated.

Brighton and Hove Council trading standards officers launched the probe into Global Air Systems Ltd after complaints about the firm's sales tactics.

The woman bought the cleaner after a salesman demonstrated the equipment at the Mid Sussex home.

A complaint was made to trading standards officers and the deal was cancelled.

The firm was investigated by officers last year after a salesman allegedly spent four hours in the Saltdean home of an 80-year-old man before driving him to a building society to draw a cheque for £1,499.

The firm's managing director, Robin Lusted, later pledged to scrap the contract.

Mr Lusted was an employee of Crystal Air Systems Ltd, which occupied the same offices in South Road, Brighton.

That company's high pressure sales techniques led to

criticism from the Government and helped bring about a change in the law to give customers more protection.

Mr Lusted, who was also a special constable based at Newhaven while working for Crystal Air Systems, was facing possible disciplinary action from Sussex Police for his part in the sale of a vacuum cleaner to an elderly woman.

Chief Insp Peter Mills said: "He was interviewed in relation to working for the company.

"He chose to resign because he felt his company's activities were not compatible with his work as a special constable."

An investigation into the sale, which could have resulted in disciplinary action, was halted as a result.

Mr Lusted said the resident at the retirement home had been refunded.

He said: "The guy that sold it at the time has got his own morals and when he started the job he said he wouldn't do pressure selling, not that we do.

"The woman in question changed her mind within a couple of days and we went round and collected the machine.

"I resigned from the special constabulary because of the hours I was working and I couldn't do any other work. I left on good terms and have been invited to go back."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.