Police are warning residents to be vigilant following reports of 'Nottingham Knockers' going door to door in the Ham area of Berkeley.

Nottingham Knockers is a term used to describe doorstep callers who are often from out of county and offer a selection of household products to sell.

Often they will claim to be former prisoners who are part of rehabilitation schemes that do not exist.

The reports involved a man who was described as being in his late 20s/early 30s with tattoos who was carrying a large back pack containing items for sale.

He became very aggressive if people turned down an offer to purchase items and one person parted with £140 for a small number of cleaning items.

If you have any information relating to this, please contact police by calling 101 and quoting incident 246 of 13 September.

Information can also be submitted online at https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/.../soh/seen-or-heard/

Action Fraud advises following the below steps if an individual comes to your house:

• Always ask for identification before letting anyone you don't know into your house.

• Check credentials, including a permanent business address and landline telephone number. The mobile phone numbers given on business cards are often pay-as-you-go numbers which are virtually impossible to trace.

• Take control by asking the questions. Ask for references from previous customers or to see examples of their work.

• Don’t sign on the spot – shop around. Get at least three written quotes to make sure you’re not being ripped off.

• If in any doubt, ask the person to leave or call Citizens Advice.