A WARNING has been issued about conmen calling at people's homes posing as officials.

In the last week there have been two incidents, one involving bogus council workers, and the other a fake ambulance with a man claiming to be from the ambulance service.

Swindon Council and police have warned residents to check the identity of strangers coming to the door.

A new plea has been issued for people to join the Evening Advertiser-backed Call a Friend scheme, which now has 149 members.

Call a Friend, which started in Wrough-ton and has now spread across Swin-don, works by elderly and vulnerable people nominating two friends or neighbours who they can ring if worried by cold callers.

Insp Simon Dicks, who heads the scheme, said: "These incidents reinforce the need for proper preventative measures. The best way to keep them out is just to shut the door."

A man claiming to be from the ambulance service called at homes in Kingswood Avenue, Walcot East, around midday on Tuesday.

He said all homes should have a house number plaque to allow ambulance crews to identify addresses in an emergency. He said for £10 his colleague would call later to fix one. His only form of identification was a tatty piece of paper. He was white, chubby and balding, in his late 50s or 60s, and sported a moustache and glasses.

On Thursday and Friday last week Swindon Council received calls from residents after house-to-house calls in Valley-side, Old Town.

No genuine council workers were in the area.

Council spokeswoman Sarah Deacon said: "If anyone is unsure of the identity of people claiming to be Swindon Council employees who cannot show an identity card please don't let them in."

If you want to join the Call a Friend scheme, contact Swindon police in 528111.