The police are taking bingo on the road in a bid to warn elderly people about distraction burglaries.

Abingdon Police Community Support Officer Chris Linzey has set up a new project to run fun sessions in day centres.

The sessions combine a game of bingo with advice on how to stop them falling victim to criminals.

On Thursday, PCSO Linzey recruited Inspector Ian Money to moonlight as the bingo caller at Abingdon’s Abbey Centre.

The policemen warned the group to chain their doors, demand to see ID from any visitors and phone the visitor’s employers to check their credentials.

PCSO Linzey has run three sessions at the centre so far, and is looking to roll out the initiative across the district.

He said: “Many pensioners are from a very trusting generation, but they have every right to challenge anybody that comes to their door.

“Bingo is a way of trying to get to as many people as we can by going to where they already are.”

Sadie Breakspear, 77, said: “It’s made me very much more aware about what goes on.

“I had a regular caller come the other day, and it was the first time I’d had the audacity to ask him for ID and make him show it to me.

“This is a useful way of letting us know about it.”

Elsie Grimes, 82, said she had learnt a great deal.

She said: “We’ve got a chain on the door and I know not to let anyone in, and now I’m always aware that when I go out the back on to the patio I should lock my front door.

“I didn’t bother with all those things, but now I feel I’ve been such a fool.

“I don’t think we get many people trying to do this, but there is that outside chance that we could.”

People are advised to not have large amounts of cash in the home, always keep front and back doors locked, to not employ cold-calling workmen and not to let anyone into the home while checking identity cards.