POLICE have unveiled a new weapon in their war on bogus officials who prey on vulnerable pensioners - paper napkins.

Thousands of napkins with crime prevention advice have been distributed via Meals on Wheels, OAP luncheon clubs and pensioner charities.

Ribble Valley and Hyndburn crime prevention officers hit upon the idea when trying to find a way to warn pensioners about the dangers of bogus callers.

Posing as anything from window cleaners and painters to gas men and council officers, crooks have left dozens of pensioners in the two boroughs devastated after conning their way into victims' homes and stealing thousands of pounds.

Both areas have been targeted by criminals travelling into the area via the M65 and A59 - both roads to get away quickly once they have conned their victims.

PC Peter Wareing, crime prevention officer at Clitheroe Police, said: "There is a recurring problem with bogus officials and the 'distraction' offences they commit. Despite repeated advice to pensioners about not letting people in their homes unless an appointment had been arranged, these offences keep occurring.

"By printing these napkins, we are hopefully getting the message across to pensioners who perhaps otherwise wouldn't be aware of the dangers."

Around 15,000 napkins have been printed so far and handed out with Meals on Wheels - whose customers include elderly, housebound and lone pensioners, exactly the type of people the bogus callers target.

Recent hoaxes in the Ribble Valley have included conmen pretending to be water board officials who asked a pensioner to turn on the taps in a back room to wait for a coloured dye to come through. While in the back room, the thieves stole hundreds of pounds.

Another recent trick was a conman who pretended to be a decorator or window cleaner and asked for a bucket to be filled up, giving him time to search houses.

On one side of the napkin is a picture of door, while the other side has a printed message urging the pensioner not to let people in unless they have an appointment or the correct identification.

They have also been handed out at luncheon clubs held in the Ribble Valley and Hyndburn.

Age Concern has also taken a batch of the napkins.

A spokesman said: "These are despicable crimes against vulnerable people. We also hope members of the community can keep an eye on elderly neighbours."

Insp Bob Ford, of Clitheroe Police, said: "Bogus callers are a real problem and our concern is that some people become victims and are too embarrassed to tell us. It is important they let us know, but hopefully if they heed this advice, it won't happen at all."