POLICE are issuing a warning, particularly to South Shore residents, not to respond to knocks on front doors late at night unless they know who's calling.

On Sunday and Monday a female appearing to be in a "distressed state" is reported to have knocked on doors asking for a drink of water.

The woman was not invited inside the house in Hill Street, where she called at 11pm or the property in Bolton Street which she visited at 12.05am. She is described as being in her 40s, of medium build with medium-length black hair. She wore a black bomber jacket and dark trousers.