THE Citizen's campaign to protect vulnerable people in the community from bogus callers -- launched last week -- prompted a concerned elderly reader to contact the paper about ex-offenders selling goods door-to-door.

The 81-year-old Blackpool man, who did not want to be named, said that he answered a knock at his front door on January 10 and was confronted by a man claiming to be a former prisoner and asking him to buy goods.

"He had a black bag over his shoulder and showed me something about a Prisoner Rehabilitation Scheme. I wasn't interested in buying anything and he went on his way.

"It's a bit dubious sending ex-prisoners around to knock on doors. They are just finding out where vulnerable people are. Most pensioners are in at 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon and it's just going dark when these people come round trying to flog us something.

"Now he knows which houses elderly people are living in, and how old the people are. It just seems like the daftest idea," he said.

Crime prevention officers from Blackpool police said many people selling goods door-to-door were genuine but added that the "ID" cards used were likely to have been made by the callers themselves rather than issued by an official body.

Officers were unaware of any official prisoner rehabilitation scheme in Blackpool involving door-to-door selling.

Crime prevention officer PC John Roper said that door-to-door sellers should have pedlars' certificates from the police, but that these are seldom refused to people who apply.

He said elderly people who were worried by these callers could take precautions: "Use your door chain. Don't let them into your house. If you are unsure, don't open the door to them and, if worried, ring the police on (01253) 293933.

"And don't open your purse with wads of money in it in front of them. Be aware of the quality of the stuff they sell. And think about whether or not you really want to buy the goods. Nine times out of ten there's no problem with these people. But if you have any doubts check to see if they are using a vehicle, get a description and call us."

And remember to use the Stop, Chain, Check routine recommended by the Home Office to help combat bogus callers. The information booklet, How To Beat the Bogus Caller, is available from crime prevention officers on (01253) 607244.

Trading Standards officers in Blackpool have also produced a guide to dealing with hawkers, available from the office at 125 Albert Road. Phone (01253) 478395. It is also available on Blackpool council's website: www.blackpool.gov.uk.

A PENSIONER disturbed a would-be thief trying to get in through the front door of his house in Blackpool on January 14.

The 78-year-old man was inside his semi-detached house on Devonshire Road, near to the junction with Talbot Road, at 5.45pm when someone rang the bell and knocked for about five minutes.

The man initially ignored the caller but eventually went to answer the door and found the intruder had smashed a small pane of glass in the front door and was reaching inside to try to open it. When he was disturbed by the pensioner he ran off.

The man was white, approximately 5ft 6ins tall and wore a Blackpool Football Club scarf. Anyone who saw a man of that description at the time is asked to contact police on (01253) 293933.