A PACK designed to help elderly and vulnerable people stop themselves from becoming victims of doorstep crime, is being relaunched.

Darlington Consumer Support Network has put together the information packs.

They contain information on dealing with various scams, including doorstep sales, bogus callers, door-to-door workers, junk mail, and distraction and sneak-in burglaries.

Darlington Borough Council's trading standards team heads the support network, with help from the Citizens Advice Bureau, Age Concern, Darlington library and the Council for Voluntary Service.

The packs will be available from the trading standards offices at 11 Houndgate, as well as Crown Street library and the Citizen's Advice Bureau, at Bennet House, Horsemarket.

The support network is also urging people to pick up a pack and pass on the information to elderly or vulnerable relatives or friends.

Councillor Andy Scott, cabinet member for health and leisure, said: "This pack proved very popular last year. Sadly there are still criminals out there who pray on the old and vulnerable.

"This pack provides practical advice for them and their families and hopefully can cut the number of victims of these cruel crimes."

For more information call trading standards on 01325-388799. The team also runs training sessions called Beware the Bogeyman to help organisations that work with the old and vulnerable to raise their clients' awareness of doorstep crime.