POLICE and health officials are working to help the slam the door on bogus officials.

Cleveland Police have joined forces with the Tees and North Yorkshire NHS Trust to prepare crime prevention information packs for residents, following a spate of cons.

PC Jim Brown, Langbaurgh Crime Prevention Officer, said: "By informing these people of what they should do if confronted by such individuals, we can reduce the number of distressing situations they are faced with."

The project will be run from the East Cleveland Hospital, Brotton, with PC Brown, senior occupational therapist Eileen McDonald and occupational therapy assistant Lynn Butcher giving advice and distributing the information packs.

Practical tips include fitting a viewer or security chain to the door, asking for identification and telephoning the organisation the caller purports to represent. If still in doubt, the advice is to keep them out and send them away