PENSIONERS in east Cleveland are being warned to be on their guard following concerns that high-pressure sales techniques are being used to entice them into buying over-priced security products.

In one incident, an elderly woman was the victim of a doorstep caller and she agreed to invest £2,000 in house alarms and door locks that could have been bought for £350.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's trading standards, working in partnership with Langbaurgh district's crime prevention unit, were called in to investigate.

In another incident, a salesman was offering a "free" phone for instant access to the emergency services or doctor, but the resident became suspicious and alerted the council's trading standards.

Councillor Joyce Benbow, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "We want to issue a series of guidelines to try to prevent this happening."

Michelle O'Rourke, council trading standards support officer, said: "We were able to save the pensioner a considerable sum of money, utilising the seven-day cooling-off period. However, even that could have its problems, if the system was to have been fitted during that time."

Anyone with concerns is asked to call trading standards on (01642) 771215 or contact police on (01642) 302071.