POLICE have warned people living near Catterick against allowing strangers into their homes after reports of suspicious callers.

Men with a Transit-type van have knocked on the doors of a number of elderly residents in the area, offering to do jobs at low prices and asking for the money in advance.

It is understood they have also tried to persuade a number of homeowners to let them inside by claiming to have a legitimate reason for calling.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said: "Our advice is always the same - never buy anything on the doorstep and never to let anyone into your home unless they can produce identification which you can check."