POLICE today attacked the 'extremely sick' people who told a pensioner with a heart condition that homeless Asians would be sent to stay with him.

The 74-year-old, who lives in Bradford Street, Accrington, received a letter which claimed to be from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Police said it reduced him to tears and the senders could be committing an offence, even though they were not treating it as racist.

The letter said: "Due to an increasing number of homeless Asians in the Rotherham/Sheffield area, we have arranged with various councils to allocate families in part-empty council or private houses in your area to help alleviate this crisis.

"We have been informed that you have a spare bedroom/loft conversion in your house and we have therefore allocated an Asian family of five to stay with you.

"The arrival of this family is likely to be within the next two weeks and you will be introduced to them on their arrival at Manchester Airport. A payment of £25 per head per month will be made to you through social services for their upkeep."

Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander, said: "This gentleman is very upset, he was actually in tears.

"He suffers from various medical complaints, including a heart condition and to receive a letter like this caused him great upset.

"There is nothing that comes to mind that would lead him to think he would receive this letter out of spite.

"Our officers have spent quite a lot of time trying to help him through what has been an extremely traumatic time for him. "

The letter was dated August 7, with a postmark dated August 11, but it is unclear where it was posted from.

"I would like to highlight this in case there are other people in the borough who may have received a similar letter," added Insp Cottam.

"We are not treating the contents as racist at this stage, although one would have to say it could easily be construed as something which would cause upset from a racial point of view."

A spokesman for Rotherham Borough Council said: "This is a disgraceful trick to play. Although the letter is obviously a fake, and is nothing like the council's official letter head, we can understand how an elderly person may be confused and upset by it.

"We would appeal to anyone who has any information about who might have sent the letter to contact the police immediately.

"It has absolutely no connection with RBC, and we totally condemn this action."