A GANG of conmen posing as council officials are targeting pensioners in Radcliffe.

The convincing thieves are smartly dressed and carry fake identification which suggests they are Bury Council officers.

Police say the gang have struck four times in Radcliffe during the last three weeks, and today warned the elderly to be on their guard against fraudsters.

Among their victims was a 70-year-old woman who found £100 missing after two of the men searched her home on December 23.

The men fled after the pensioner frightened them off with a brass ornament.

The woman today issued a warning to others to be wary of callers.

"When these two men came to my door and I saw their passes I assumed they were genuine," she said.

"I hope that the police manage to catch these terrible people and punish them, I had left the money out to repay my son who helped me when I was recovering from my injury.

"If they had chosen another victim it could have meant two weeks rent or heating."

The men, who work in pairs, told each victim they were assessing council tax bands.

A spokesman for Bury Council said valuation officers always made appointments in advance by letter and carried photo identification.