Elderly people across Teesside are being warned to be vigilant after a number of homes were targeted by bogus callers.

Just before 2pm on Thursday, a teenager knocked on the door of a house in Avon Road, Norton, claiming he was there to carry out gardening work.

The 87-year-old resident said she had not asked for a gardener and called for her neighbour to come and check the caller, who gave two different names when asked.

Nothing was taken in the incident and the teenager left. He was about 18, 5ft 6in and had short, dark hair. He was wearing a beige top and jeans.

In a second incident, at about 3.30pm on the same day, a thief tricked his way into the home of a wheelchair-bound 94-year-old woman in Hart Village, near Hartlepool.

He stole a cream shoulder bag containing £200 and a cheque book, and was 5ft 6in, slim, and wearing light clothing.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council raised the alarm yesterday after two women posing as Warm Zone heating officials tried to trick their way into the homes of elderly people on the Dorset Road estate, in Guisborough.

Cleveland Police are contacting the council's trading standards unit to discuss reports of the two women who asked to read meters.

On both occasions, the women failed to gain entry to the houses, but chief trading standards officer Jeff Bell said: "Both these incidents could have had serious consequences. Official visitors usually like to give prior notification of their intention to call, but anyone with a rightful duty to enter a property will always be only too happy to show identification.

"We would urge anyone who answers the door to people purporting to be officials and wanting entry to their homes to treat them with the utmost suspicion."

The borough's Warm Zone programme ended earlier this year and its staff do not read meters.

Anyone with information about the Norton and Hart Village incidents is asked to contact Cleveland Police on (01642) 326326.