A TOWN'S bid to rid its streets of bogus callers has been given a cash boost.

The new initiative in Shildon has been designed to help the more vulnerable members of society recognise bogus callers and make sure that they don't fall victim to con men.

The scheme was put together in January by members of Shildon Town Council, Age Concern, Shildon Community Safety Group, police and neighbourhood wardens and since then a fundraising drive has been collecting cash to get it up and running.

Eye-catching stickers have been designed to show visitors that householders will not allow anyone entry to their homes without an appointment or some kind of identification.

It is hoped that the stickers will arrive in the town sometime this week and the scheme will be running by the end of the month.

Sara Collins community safety co-ordinator for Shildon Community Safety Group said: "We have been busy raising the money to get the scheme running and have managed to raise around 1300 from a variety of sources.

"Everyone who is involved is really keen and we have had great support from different agencies. We are really pleased that we are nearly there.''

A competition supported with donations from local businesses will encourage householders to display the stickers and a list of emergency telephone numbers will also be delivered to addresses throughout the town so that people can call and check whether or not companies such as British Gas and Northumbrian Water are in the area.

Money for the project has come from Shildon Town Council, Age Concern, Durham County Council, Police Community Safety Partnership, Sedgefield Borough Community Partnership and individual councillors.

Mrs Collins said: "We have always held yearly talks on bogus callers but town mayor Stuart Bird asked us to look a bit deeper into the problem and now we are taking wider issues into consideration.

"This is all about reducing the fear of crime. We want people to be armed with the right information and reassure them they can do something about this.''