A WRITTEN apology is to be sent to a man who claimed Bolton Council was encouraging bogus officials to prey on vulnerable people.

Michael Thomas complained when council canvassers could not show him any identification when they called at his Crossford Drive home in Ladybridge.

And he has blasted Bolton's election officers for taking more than five months to reply to his letter of complaint.

Mr Thomas said: "Regularly one reads in the local press that elderly people have fallen foul of bogus council, gas and other officials, and the police extol people to ask for proof of identity."

Mr Thomas demanded identity on two occasions when canvassers called with electoral registration forms. He was so angry he refused to sign the register.

John Fielding, Bolton Council elections officer, said a letter of apology was being sent to Mr Thomas this week.

He said it was council policy that all employees had to show identification when knocking on doors.

Mr Fielding said: "Our canvassers got it wrong. They had carried identification on numerous occasions before but this time they were waiting for a new identification badge.

"We always tell our employees to carry identification to prove that they are there on official business and are not bogus.

"The difficulty arises in a minority of cases when some employees do not always carry their identification badges."

Mr Fielding apologised for the length of time it had taken to reply to Mr Thomas's complaint and said that a letter was being sent to him immediately.

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