DETECTIVES in County Durham have warned the elderly to be on their guard following a series of incidents involving bogus callers.

The first, reported to police on Monday, were breakfast time calls in the Chester-le-Street and Fencehouses areas, followed by similar incidents in Blackhall Colliery and South Hetton later in the morning.

About 5.30pm there was another report from the Crook area.

Investigators said the number of offences reported was unusual and possible links between this series of offences and others committed in the Washington area were being examined.

In the first incident, a man called at a house in Melville Street, Chester-le-Street, posing as a new neighbour at 7.30am, but the occupant became suspicious about his line of questioning about guttering and closed his door.

The suspect, thought to be with a second man, then re-appeared at a house in nearby Allen Street where he stole cash from a purse after tricking an elderly lady into letting him in.

Two men later conned their way into a house in Melville Street, Fencehouses, on the pretext of asking about a leaking roof.

When they left the woman found her purse was missing.

The first man is described as aged 18 to 25, about 5ft 5in, of slim build with unkempt medium brown hair. He was clean-shaven with a thin face, pointed chin and spoke politely with a local accent. He wore a blue zipped sports top and matching bottoms with scruffy trainers.

His accomplice is thought to be aged between 20 and 30, about the same height and of stocky build. He had short black unkempt curly hair, shorter at the sides than the top. He was wearing a blue checked shirt and blue bottoms.

At Blackhall Colliery at about 11.30am an elderly couple confronted a man in their hallway.

He was described as looking like the Coronation Street character Tyrone and was wearing a dark-coloured hip-length jacket and dark trousers. He spoke with a local accent and said he was from the water board carrying out tests on water pressure.

The victims glimpsed a second man hurrying past a rear window. They later found a small amount of cash had disappeared from a handbag.

Anyone with information is asked to call (0191) 386 4222.