RESIDENTS in Selby have been urged to take care after reports of cold callers operating in the area.

A number have been contacted by phone and asked to take part in a health questionnaire with the chance of winning holiday vouchers.

A police spokesman said the questions cover age, occupation, disability, who lives at the address and if there are any pets in the house.

Later, the caller calls back and tells the resident they have won a holiday and that they would hand-deliver the vouchers after arranging an appointment.

When the caller comes to hand over the vouchers they are very pushy and subject residents to a hard sell, trying to get them to hand over bank details and buy expensive items they don’t need, with the salesmen staying for at least an hour, and residents claiming they found it difficult to get them to leave.

The police spokesman said the vouchers were legitimate, but officers were “concerned that people are being pushed into buying unwanted items”, and said the majority of residents targeted are aged over 60 and tend to be single or widowed, and retired.

Anyone concerned about cold callers should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.