ELDERLY people are being warned to be on their guard after another pensioner was targeted by bogus callers.

Marches Housing Association, which has homes throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire, made the warning after three men visited the woman claiming to be from the water board.

However, another tenant spotted the men, stepped in to discourage the would-be thieves and jotted down their car registration to pass to police.

"We're very grateful to the tenant who intervened to help her neighbour," said Chris Boote, director of housing and property services for Marches Housing Association.

"It is clearly right to remind our tenants and all older members of the community that there are people out there looking to take advantage of them.

"Anyone who has a right to enter homes will have an identity badge with a contact telephone number on it, so the individual can call to check the visitor is who he or she says they are.

"They should ask to see the badge and if necessary take it into their home, where the light may be better, to take a closer look at it, remembering to keep the security chain on the door or to close it."