A SELF-PROCLAIMED psychic is attempting to swindle elderly people out of money by warning that something terrible is about to happen to them.

Consumer watchdogs in the North-East last night issued a warning about the claims of Anna Pfeiffer, which left some vulnerable people distressed.

Trading standards chiefs in Darlington have received several reports of letters, said to originate from St Margrethen, in Switzerland, being sent to local homeowners.

The letters claim that someone close to the recipient is planning to harm them soon and that Ms Pfeiffer has the psychic ability to prevent it happening - if she is sent £15.

The letter reads: "If I don't intervene on your behalf very soon, the person who is trying to do you harm may very well succeed before 15 days are up.

"I feel it clearly - because of jealousy, that person is planning to do something terrible to you, something extremely nasty, something I don't like at all.

"The person who wishes you harm is someone you know, but someone you don't suspect, a person who can change completely from one day to the next."

Ms Pfeiffer also claims to hold the key to the recipient winning up to £77,000 in cash.

But officials are warning people to be on their guard and not to send money or give out credit card details.

Liz Crowe, of Darlington trading standards, said she had forwarded the letters to the Office of Fair Trading's European Enforcement Division, which would be investigating.

"These letters have just started appearing in Darlington in the past day or two and have been going to elderly residents, which is quite worrying," she said.