CRIMEFIGHTERS are battling back against bogus officials who are preying on the elderly.

Recent figures show there have been between 15 and 20 sneak burglaries in Farnworth in six weeks.

An 88-year-old woman in Daubhill lost hundreds of pounds after two men, posing as water company officials, talked their way into her Longfield Road home.

Now, under a special scheme to be launched across the town, Post Office bosses and police chiefs have joined forced to fight the sneak thieves.

Special crime prevention advice leaflets, printed by the Home Office, will be handed out to 30,000 elderly residents when they are collecting their pensions at participating post offices.

Up to 50 sub-post offices have been contacted to see if they will take part in the crime prevention scheme, which was officially launched at Bradshaw post office on Lee Gate.

Supt Stuart Bailey, from Astley Bridge police station, said: "It's a great idea and it's nice to see the people from Post Offices around the town helping out in this way.

"This is just another way of getting the message over to people who may not receive that through the normal channels.

"We've had a spate recently of bogus officials targeting homes and have launched a number of operations to curtail this.

"It's a problem that will no doubt come back if we do not introduce other measures to prevent it."

Sub-postmaster David Rothwell said: "We get a lot of pensioners here and we're happy to help them in any way we can."

Now police chiefs are awaiting delivery of the special advice leaflets which will also be available at the front desks at Astley Bridge and Bolton Central police stations.

And the new scheme to crackdown on the conmen got the thumbs-up from Post Office customer Anne Hardman.

The pensioner from Harwood added: "I think it's a super idea. It will help to put people on their guard.

"You never think about these things when you answer your door."

Pensioners are urged to check the identity of any callers to their homes, even asking to see ID badges through a window before opening their front doors.

They are also advised to book appointments for callers, always have a chain on the front door and if in any doubt about a caller's validity they should contact the police.

Chris Waters, crime prevention officer from Astley Bridge police station, who devised the initiative, also gives free personal safety talks.

Anyone who wants to contact him should ring 0161 856 5746.