The Cambridge News is shutting the door on bogus callers who target the elderly and vulnerable, with the launch of its Who's at the Door? campaign.

The newspaper has teamed up with Cambridgeshire police and Asda to launch the campaign against distraction burglars.

The paper will be distributing stickers bearing a checklist of dos and don'ts for when strangers knock at the door.

This year detectives in the county have dealt with 219 reported incidents - a rise of nearly 50 per cent on the same period last year.

They say the vast majority of bogus callers and distraction burglaries are not opportunist thieves, but people involved in organised crime, who often travel the country, watching properties and pinpointing potential victims.

Superintendent David Harvey, of Cambridge police, said tackling burglary was a major priority for police forces nationwide.

He said: "Please take notice of the advice which will be appearing in the Cambridge Evening News. If there is just one thing you can do then the security of everybody, particularly the most vulnerable, will be increased."

Editor Colin Grant said: "If, by launching such a campaign, we play a part in increasing awareness of these crimes and help bring down the alarming figures, then there will be a feeling of achievement from the newspaper, our fellow campaign supporters and readers."

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