TWO men were being held by police last night after being arrested in connection with 100 bogus caller burglaries across the North.

They were arrested in Durham City yesterday by police investigating a series of incidents in which tens of thousands of pounds were stolen from pensioners.

It is alleged that the pair, a man in his late 20s and a teenager, posed as water board officials to trick their way into homes around eight counties.

Both men come from the Leeds area and were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle, when they answered bail at Durham City police station yesterday afternoon. They were still being questioned late last night.

The arrests follow a five-month investigation led by officers from Durham Constabulary that has taken them into the Northumbria, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and North Yorkshire areas, where offences were alleged to have been committed.

During the course of the inquiry, the Durham detectives were supported by officers in West Yorkshire, Nottingham and Greater Manchester.

About half of the 100 distraction burglaries being investigated took place in County Durham - offences in the county are thought to involve the theft of around £20,000.

Dozens of victims, ranging in age from their 70s to 90s, have lost money from a few pounds up to, in one case, £9,000.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Moore, who has co-ordinated the widespread investigation, said the majority of offences reported to the police were committed between August and November last year, although a small number dated back as far as 2002.

He said: "The offending under investigation stretches from Castle Donnington in the south to Ponteland in the north, Skipton in the west and Peterlee in the east."

l The Northern Echo launched its Doorstoppers campaign last year to highlight the problem of bogus callers. Householders should always check a caller's identity and never let anyone into the house if they are unsure who they are. When in doubt, ring the police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.