OLD folk have been warned to take extra care when letting people into their homes after two elderly women fell victim to a bogus caller.

Police say householders should check identification and, if they're still not sure, close the door and call officers out.

A 78-year-old woman answered a knock on the door at her home in Sycamore Avenue at 2.30pm yesterday and let in a man who said he was an electricity board official.

When he left she realised a substantial amount of money was missing from a bedroom.

He is white, early 30s, 5ft 7ins tall, slim with combed back sandy hair. He spoke with a London accent and was wearing a pale coloured suit.

The other incident happened at 3pm at sheltered accommodation in Mount Crescent, Cliviger.

Two women who said they were from the local church were let in by an 87-year-old woman.

A red plastic wallet, cash and a pension book in the name Ada Dean was stolen.

The women are white, slim, 5ft 4ins, and aged about 24. One has very short brown hair and wore a brown raincoat. The other has dark hair in a bobbed style and was also wearing a raincoat.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.