HOUSEHOLDERS have been given a fresh warning by Yorkshire Water about bogus doorstep callers.

The company is embarking on a five-year £1.5bn programme of work and believes criminals could see this as an ideal opportunity to gain access to homes and businesses by posing as staff members.

Officials say householders should always check the ID of callers. They say many bogus callers make the mistake of saying they are from the water board, when water boards have not existed for years.

Yorkshire Water security manager Stuart Briggs said: "We are urging customers, and in particular the elderly, not be duped into letting anyone into their homes unless they are entirely satisfied as to the identity of the caller.

"All our employees and contractors carry identification cards, and genuine callers don't mind being asked to prove who they are.

"If someone claims to be from Yorkshire Water what we say is ask for their identity card, take it, close and lock your door, then call us on 0845 1242 424 for verification. If they aren't who they claim to be then call the police."

City of York Council is also warning residents to be aware of bogus council employees who may try to gain access to their homes.

A man claiming that he was from the council tried to gain entry in to a house in the Leeman Road area of the city on Wednesday by saying that he needed to inspect the occupant's household waste bin.

The Northern Echo launched the Doorstoppers campaign last year to highlight the problem of bogus callers.