CONMEN men posing as housing association officials have been targeting tenants in Pendle and Rossendale.

Bogus callers claiming to be from Green Vale Homes -- a non-profit organisation, set up to manage the borough's housing, have been trying to get into homes.

And in Pendle the council is warning people to check the identity of workmen claiming to be from the authority.

Mary Buchanan, spokesman for Rossendale Council's housing department said: "While staff may contact tenants to discuss issues relating to Green Vale Homes, until early spring 2006 they will still work for Rossendale Borough Council and all council staff visiting tenants' homes will have Rossendale Borough Council badges.

"If you are not sure a visitor is legitimate ring the council offices before you let them in."

Sergeant Chris Counsell, of Rawtenstall Police, said: "Distraction burglary is a particularly disturbing crime because offenders are targeting the most vulnerable. They can use a variety of means to try and trick their way in.

"I would urge all residents to follow simple crime prevention steps and never let anybody through their door if they are unsure. If anyone suspects someone is behaving suspiciously in their area they should report it to the police."

In the past week in Pendle the authority said it received reports of workmen calling at homes in Nelson, Barnoldswick and Earby saying they were working with the council.

The men have then tried to trick people into paying for work to be carried out on their homes.

Councillor Anne Kerrigan, executive member for community safety, said council employees or those working on its behalf always carried an identity badge which they would show.

She added: "I would remind residents, particularly the elderly, to always ask for identify from a caller before letting them in --whether that person is from the council or not.

"There is a telephone number on every council employee's ID badge; residents are welcome to ring that number to confirm the identity of the council employee before they let that person into their homes.

"Council employees are happy to wait for someone to do this before going into a home."