BOGUS callers in a North-East town have conned pensioners into spending as much as £500 for boxes of fish.

Trading standard officials and police are warning people not to be pressurised into buying unwanted goods following the latest scam on Teesside.

Not only have vulnerable householders in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, been pressured into buying expensive boxes of fish - cheques have been fraudulently altered, costing one lady £500.

Speaking at a meeting of the Linthorpe Community Network, PC Paul McNulty, of Cleveland Police, said: "We are not talking about distraction burglaries. These are unscrupulous door-to-door salesmen who will pressurise you into buying what you do not want.

"One elderly woman was persuaded to buy £140 worth of fish. But when her bank statement came, the cheque had been altered to £500."

One pensioner said: "I just wanted to buy some fish, but I ended up paying over £100. I felt pressured into buying it. I told him I did not have the room for it all, but he went and looked in my freezer and said I did. I live on my own, I do not need all this fish, but I just got confused."

As part of its Doorstoppers campaign, The Northern Echo is pressing for legislation against door-to-door salespeople.

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: "If householders are not absolutely sure callers are genuine or feel they are being pressured into buying something they do not really want, they should not buy from them or let them in."