AN elderly woman refused to let two men into her home after they claimed to be from a water company but could not produce any identification.

Police are now urging people to be aware of how to prevent distraction burglaries.

The woman in her 80s told officers she opened the door of her flat in Oldnall Road in Kidderminster to find a man claiming to work for a company called Nationwide and needed to check the water by putting some dye into it. She asked him for identification which he could not produce and he was refused entry.

A second man then appeared and told the woman all the other flats had been checked and hers was the only one still left to do, but again she refused entry and both men left without gaining access. It happened between about 5pm and 5.30pm last Friday.

The first man was aged 40 to 50, 5ft 10ins tall, of heavy build, with a chubby face and pasty complexion. He was wearing blue denim work jacket and trousers, and black workman's boots, and was scruffy and dirty in appearance. The second man was in his late 20s to early 30s, 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build, with short dark hair, and more smartly dressed in trousers and a jacket.

The offenders were both white.

No vehicle was seen but police believe they would have had one parked in either Hill Grove Crescent, Oldnall Road or Russell Road.

Anybody with any information should call Detective Constable Phil Christie on 08457 444888 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

For more information about preventing distraction burglaries visit www.westmercia.police.uk