Police are issuing a stark warning to residents not to open their doors to salespeople.

A statement issued by Colne and West Craven Police on Monday advised residents that a group of men are in the area knocking door-to-door selling kitchen cleaning cloths and other equipment.

The men are thought to be from Middlesbrough and are targeting elderly and vulnerable residents.

According to police, this is not the first time the men have attempted to conduct such behaviour in the area.

Writing on the Colne and West Craven Police Facebook page, a spokesperson for the police said: "Residents please be aware that our friends from Middlesbrough are again in the area knocking door to door selling kitchen cleaning cloths/equipment etc.

"These males do not have the correct licences to be selling door to door and have been known to be intimidating to residents in the past, particularly towards the elderly and more vulnerable and to charge extortionate prices for their products."

Residents have been advised not to answer the door to these males and not to buy the products they are selling.

PCSO Mark Hyde of the West Craven neighbourhood police team said: "These males have been spoken to by the police, warned regarding their activity and will be reported to Pendle Borough Council, who deal with the licensing offences.

"We would be grateful if you could inform your elderly friends or relatives who may not be on Facebook about these incidents, advise them to keep their doors locked and not answer the door to anyone they don't know."

A later statement issued by the police said that the men in question may be using a white VW Van with a registration number AK13 CWV.

If you see this vehicle or if you are in any way intimidated by these males please ring 101 and quote incident log number LC-20181022-1077.

If you believe that criminal offences are being committed at the time then ring 999.