ELDERLY people are being warned against letting strangers into their homes after fraudsters burgled the home of an 83-year-old pensioner.

A man called at the house in Liscard Grove, Wallasey, and spoke to the 83-year-old woman and her 62-year-old daughter on the afternoon of October 19.

He told the two women that there was a water leak down the road and he needed to check the water inside the property. While he was looking at the water in the kitchen, a second man entered the house and went upstairs.

The two men left through a kitchen door and a short while later both women discovered that a quantity of jewellery had been stolen from the bedroom.

The men were described as white, 6ft tall with slim builds. One had short, thick, dark brown hair and was wearing white plimsolls, white gloves with blue lettering on the cuffs and a blue t-shirt. The other man was wearing a red woollen hat.

Police have said that there are steps that can be taken to reduce the chances of becoming a victim.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "The best defence against a doubtful caller is to have a viewer or spy hole in the door and a stout door chain.

"Always make sure visitors are who they say they are by asking to see their identity card and if you are in any doubt about who they are, phone the company and check. If you do this, don't use the telephone number on their card, look in the phone book for it. Ask the person to wait while you check and never leave the front door open.

"If anyone in anyway suspects a caller, they should contact the police immediately. If the caller leaves and you are still unsure about their credibility, write down any details of the person who has called at your house, including registration numbers of cars they are travelling in, and contact the local police station."

Anyone with any information about a bogus official crime can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.