BOGUS charity workers are being hunted by police after selling false raffle tickets in aid of a children's hospice.

Shoppers were approached by two women in Yarm High Street last weekend claiming to be raising money for Zoe's Place in Normanby, Middlesbrough.

One woman was so shocked by their "aggressive" selling techniques that she contacted the hospice, which cares for babies and children with life-limiting illnesses.

She told carers how the women claimed to work for Rainbow Promotions on behalf of the hospice.

But when Manager Mark Guidery researched the company he found no evidence of them. He immediately got in touch with Cleveland Police.

He said: "It is disgusting that there are people out there making money in our name.

"Especially when I think how hard people have worked over the last three years to get us where we are.

"Nothing like this has ever happened to us but it puts us in bad light - being associated with callous people who are using our name in vain."

Cleveland Police have issued an appeal for the anonymous caller who contacted the hospice and for anyone who bought tickets, to get in touch with officers.

Anyone with information about the bogus raffle tickets is asked to contact police on (01642) 302626.