ELDERLY people in Darlington and south-west Durham were targeted by bogus callers at the weekend.

Detectives are linking a series of incidents which took place on Saturday afternoon.

The first happened shortly after 2.30pm in Great Burdon when an 80-year-old woman allowed a man into her home after he claimed to be testing the water supply.

She became suspicious and asked him to leave, at which point she noticed another man. Police believe he entered the house to look for valuables, though nothing was taken.

Shortly after 3pm, an 86-year-old woman, in Bracken Road, received a similar visit. She refused the caller entry.

Later that afternoon, a man pretending to be from the water board stole cash from an elderly woman in Kimberley Street, Coundon Grange.

Police think the same man was seen knocking on the doors of other old people's bungalows in the area.

Shortly before 4pm, two men called at the home of an elderly man, in Price Avenue, Woodhouse Close, Bishop Auckland, claiming to be from the water board. They got inside the house but do not appear to have taken anything.

The pair were spotted walking along Price Avenue onto Walker Drive where police believe they got into a waiting vehicle.

One of the men was described as well-built with short dark hair wearing dark blue clothing. Police believe the same people are involved in all cases. Anyone with information is asked to call police in Darlington on (01325) 467681 or Bishop Auckland on (01388) 603566.