POLICE are warning pensioners to be on their guard after a spate of bogus callers targeted homes.

Detectives in County Durham are investigating five incidents they believe were carried out by the same men.

All the victims were elderly women and were fooled by the thieves' claim they were from "the water board" and needed to check their homes because of mains damage.

The first incident happened in Delves Lane, near Consett, at 1pm on Tuesday, where a 79-year-old had cash stolen.

An hour later another 79-year-old was targeted at nearby Castleside, but the thieves left empty-handed.

They struck again at 7pm in Wolsingham, at the home of a woman in her eighties, but again nothing was taken.

Shortly afterwards, they took money from a pensioner at High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland.

Yesterday at 10.30am, the callers again stole cash from the home of a 75-year-old at High Pittington, near Durham.

Detective Sergeant Tony Dumighan, of Durham City CID, said in the past year there had been 40 similar incidents across the county in which thieves had pretended to be from the "water board''.

He said: "We continually advise people - particularly the elderly who are more trusting than most - not to allow anyone in their home unless they have checked them out.

Last year, The Northern Echo launched its Doorstoppers campaign to stamp out bogus callers.

Anyone with information about the callers is asked to call police on 0191-3864222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.