Police are urging the public to be on their guard following reports of a bogus collector in the Ryedale area who is trying to cash in - in the name of charity.

The man, whom police described as being white, around 5ft 8in tall and in his 60s, claims to be collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

He tried to con Thornton-le-Dale residents last Friday. One resident contacted Marie Curie after being asked for money by the man.

Acting sergeant Carole Horner, of Malton police, said: "We were contacted by one of the staff of Marie Curie who was unaware of such a collection. He did not offer any ID or anything suggesting he was from Marie Curie."

Sergeant Horner urged people to check the credentials of anyone claiming to be doing door-to-door collections. "Be aware, check ID cards of people who are collecting," she said.

A spokeswoman for Marie Curie pointed out the charity does not collect funds in this way.

"We do not do door-to-door collections," she said.

"We do make telephone appeals that involve putting envelopes through letter boxes, but there are no such appeals due to be done in the Thornton-le-Dale area."

She added: "This man has been knocking on doors asking for donations. I do not know how many houses he has been to.

"Any bona fide staff would always have a letter from us or an ID card so always ask to see it."

The spokeswoman also said she was "saddened" someone would take advantage of Marie Curie's name in this way:

"We have so many loyal volunteers trying to raise funds nursing services. I'm saddened if somebody is doing this without any authority."

"I hope he is stopped," she added.

Tony Lidgate, spokesman for North Yorkshire Police, offered the following advice:

"We would always advise people not to let anybody into their house unless they show identification and do not be afraid to take the papers into the house, leaving them outside, and phone the number on the paper work.

"If there is no number, suggest they sling their hook."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.