ELDERLY Fylde residents will be offered top tips on how to beat bogus callers at an Age Concern open day in Blackpool next month.

From 10am until 3pm on April 9 at the Cookson Street branch, general age concern services home security advisor Ann Leather and home security manager Andrew Stones will be on hand to provide information on the 'Stop, Chain and Check' campaign which aims to make older folk feel safer in their homes.

He said: "We always advise people not only to ask a caller for ID but also to check it out.

"It's quite easy for anyone to produce a reasonable-looking ID card on a home computer these days."

"And it's wise to avoid using the telephone number included on a card. This could be a bogus number which links to an accomplice waiting at the other end of the phone line.

"Do your own research, keep the chain on the door and ask the caller to wait outside while you look up the number in the telephone directory.

"Any genuine person will co-operate with this request."

Every visitor at the open day will also be offered a DataLink container -- as previously highlighted in the Citizen -- used to store a person's identification details plus information regarding current illnesses, allergies, prescription/medication records and emergency contact numbers.

The plastic bottles are kept in household fridges and marked with the green cross DataLink logo.

In emergency situations, the matching stickers on the front door and fridge door can be vital in alerting visitors to the container.

Call Age Concern at 64 Cookson Street, Blackpool, on (01253) 751747 for more details. Or freephone (0800) 917 2376 for more information on staying safe in your own home.