POLICE have issued a warning over a bogus charity fundraiser collecting door-to-door in Poole.

Suspicions were aroused after a man claiming to collect for a children's charity visited houses in Turlin Moor.

The Borough of Poole said they had not issued a house-to-house permit for this charity and they were not on the list of authorised street collectors so they were acting illegally.

Andy Crossen-White, principal officer at Poole's environmental and consumer protection services, said: "If people are collecting for this charity in Poole we would advise people that this is being done without permission and illegally so money may not end up for charitable purposes.

"If people are suspicious of any charity collectors they should call us or the police."

And Sgt Nick Hodge, of the Hamworthy beat team, said they were investigating an incident in Russell Gardens.

"No one should ever pass on their details to anyone calling at their home or calling over the telephone.

"Anyone calling on behalf of a genuine charity will carry identification documents and will be only too pleased to allow residents to check numbers."

Anyone with information should leave a message for PC Tim Davis by calling Dorset Police on 01202 222222.

First published: November 7