Police officers are warning residents to “keep them out if in doubt” after an elderly woman was targeted in a suspected burglary attempt.

A man holding a notepad approached the 81-year-old woman at her home in Ulting Road, Hatfield Peverel, claiming to have been sent by her nurse to look at her roof on October 27 at 1.45pm.

The man, who is described as white, aged between 21 and 40 with dark brown hair, only left when the woman’s phone rang.

Police believe he was trying to trick her to commit burglary.

Sergeant John Reynolds, of Braintree police, reminded residents to check that the back door is locked before answering the door and if possible speak to them through a window before opening the door with the chain on.

He also urged residents to check for an identification card and to ring a telephone number from your correspondence, not the number on their card, to verify their identity.

If in doubt, keep them out and call the police on 999.