RESIDENTS in Kendal are being urged to be on their guard against bogus charity collectors following a number of complaints this week.

Complaints have been received from people living in Heron Hill and Appleby Road who had received plastic bags detailing collections of quality clothing and toys for people in Third World countries.

However, one recipient checked the name of the charity on the internet and found stories exposing it as a bogus charity, said South Lakeland crime prevention officer Terry Belshaw.

"Everybody is full of good will around Christmas but they need to be sure that if they do give they make sure who they are giving to first," he said.

POLICE are warning Furness householders to be vigilant after a thief entered a house in Grange and stole a purse on Monday afternoon. The thief got in through an open back door at the Cart Lane property. The purse contained cash and a store card. Anyone with any information should call Kendal police on 01539-722611.

BURGLARS stole £1,300 worth of items including a payphone and several bottles of spirits after breaking into The Coachouse pub in High Bentham. They forced open a window and helped themselves to bottles of Bollinger champagne, home-brewed dukes vodka and home-brewed duchess gin. Anyone who has been offered these bottles should contact Skipton CID on 01423-539753.

A DIRT jump pedal cycle worth £79 was stolen from a house on Glebe Road, Kendal. The grey and black bike with white gear changers was reported missing on Sunday evening (Nov 6).

n FIVE watches and a hand-held Sudoku game worth a total of £70 were taken from WH Smith on Stricklandgate, Kendal. The items were removed from their boxes and taken between 9am and 5pm on Saturday (Nov 5).

n AN Audi car parked on Castle Road, Kendal, was scratched along the off side front to back and on the bonnet between 11am on October 29 and 1.20pm on Sunday (Nov 6).