POLICE and social services staff are investigating reports of a bogus social worker visiting children in North Yorkshire

Concerned parents contacted police and officers at North Yorkshire County Council with details of the phoney official, who is believed to be operating in the Easingwold area.

A warning has now been issued to parents to be on their guard, after the person visited a home in the Easingwold area and examined two young children.

The incident happened on Wednesday, but nobody was aware of the situation until a bona fide social worker visited the same home on Thursday.

County council staff are now working with the police to ensure that the individual involved in the incidents does not have any further access to children.

Derek Law, corporate director of social services in North Yorkshire, said: "This is a very unfortunate incident, and we are working hard with police to ensure that it is not repeated.

"Parents need to be aware that this type of incident does happen occasionally.

"The best way to protect their children is to ensure that identification is checked if anyone they don't know visits their home requesting access to children.

"All our social workers carry official identification which can be checked by contacting the department.

"If parents are in any doubt, they should contact us or the police before allowing access to the child."