A RENEWED warning has gone to elderly and vulnerable people not to allow anyone into their homes unless they are certain who they say they are.

It follows an incident at Cornfield Way, Ashton-under-Hill, on Tuesday morning (4) involving an elderly tenant of Evesham and Pershore Housing Association.

Two men in their late 20s called at the 95-year-old's bungalow and told him they were there to check his taps. They did not offer any identity and when he asked for identification they said they had got the wrong address. They said they were looking for a Mr Davis and left.

Rebecca Bailey, communication and design officer of EPHA, said: "This man did exactly the right thing in asking for proof. We always advise our tenants to ask for identification."

She explained: "All people working for EPHA always carry some form of identification. If tenants have any concern at all they should not let anyone into the house and in the case of people saying they represent EPHA the tenant can always call this office and we can quickly check for them whether the callers are genuine or not."

Miss Bailey said: "It is far better to check if in any doubt at all. If the callers are genuine, they won't mind a bit waiting while an inquiry is made."

Miss Bailey said there were cruel and heartless people who preyed on the elderly and vulnerable, but if tenants asked for identities as a matter of course and contacted EPHA or the police if they were not satisfied it would be a big deterrent.