RESIDENTS are urged to be on their guard if they receive a letter advising them they have won a digital camera.

Police have been alerted to the scam after a Redditch woman contacted them saying she had received an official-looking letter claiming she had won a digital camera.

The letter requested she phone a premium rate number to arrange delivery between Christmas and the new year.

But it also said calls would be charged £1.50 a minute, lasting no longer than five minutes.

A similar letter was received by a woman in Telford, who also reported it to police.

A police spokesman said: "Neither woman had entered a competition to win a digital camera, and became suspicious.

"Anyone who receives one of these letters is advised to bin it."