RESIDENTS are being warned to look out for bogus charity collectors calling at houses, asking for money.

Redbridge Trading Standards officers have advised people to be especially cautious when asked for donations on their doorsteps.

They have been told to make sure collectors have ID badges and if they believe the collector could be bogus, to check the Charity Commission website to make sure they are from a registered group.

It is also possible to find out whether collectors have been licensed by the police to ask for donations door-to-door by calling 7321 7129.

To avoid being caught out, people are being advised to contact charities directly to make a donation.

Trading Standards officers have also said contact details should be looked up online or in a phone book and those given by the collector personally should not be used.

The Charity Commission website can be found at charity-commission.gov.uk