TWO pensioners tried to lock a gang of bogus callers in their home when they caught them trying to steal from them.

Police are warning people to be on the look-out for people posing as workmen following two incidents in Burnley which officers are linking.

In the first, a 75-year-old woman answered the door of her home in Blacker Street to a man saying he was from the water board.

The offender said he needed to check the taps in the house, but when the pensioner and the man went back into her home the woman saw another man inside.

The pair fled and joined up with two other men. The incident happened between 5pm and 5.30pm on Monday.

Minutes later a man called at the home of two women aged 83 and 75 in Sycamore Avenue. The man said there had been an explosion and needed to check their water and gas supply.

One of the women became suspicious and tried to lock the front door and told her friend to call the police.

Three men then came downstairs with goods which they dropped before brushing past the women.