Elderly West Lothian residents are being warned to stay vigilant following a spate of bogus caller attacks in the region in the past week.

Police spent Thursday on a public awareness drive in Livingston in a bid to make older people more aware of the risks. It came after three attacks in the region, two of which police believe are linked.

At around 1pm on Wednesday, a 67-year-old woman was in bed at her home in Livingston's Ladywell area when she heard a noise at the door and got up to find three men in her house. The claimed they were there to check her water supply but fled quickly in a car.

Around half an hour later in Bathgate's Durham Drive, an 89-year-old man answered his door to a caller who claimed to be checking his water supply. Two other men then came into the house and when they left, the man realised money was missing.

The trio were last seen in a dark coloured Mercedes heading into North Lanarkshire. They are described as white, aged 35 to 45, wearing dark suits. One had red hair and at least one spoke with an Irish accent.

Speaking at an awareness event at a community centre in Livingston on Thursday, Inspector Stephen Elliot from Lothian and Borders Police said: "The bogus workmen incidents in West Lothian over the past two days have both targeted elderly members of the community and anyone with information that can assist with our enquiries should contact police immediately.

"These events are about empowering older people and giving them the skills and knowledge to protect them from the unscrupulous criminals who commit doorstep crimes against older people.

"They allow us to highlight the important issues by directly addressing older people and working with other agencies to prevent older people becoming victims."

Police are also investigating another incident in which a pair of bogus callers conned their way into an 86-year-old woman's house in Bathgate and robbed her of a four figure sum of cash.

A man wearing some type of ID claimed to be checking for a burst water pipe and asked the woman to lead him to her garden. When she went back inside, a second man had entered the house.

The pair left quickly, but a few days later she realised they had stolen a four figure sum of cash from her.

A police spokesman said: “These men have made off with a considerable sum of cash that has left the victim out of pocket and distressed as a result.

“Anyone who recognises the description of the suspects or who has information that can assist with our enquiries should contact police immediately.

The first suspect is described as white, around 25 to 30-years-old, slim and between five foot six and five foot seven inches tall. He was wearing dark clothing, a baseball cap and some form of ID badge. He spoke in an English accent with an Irish twang.

The second suspect was around the same age and a couple of inches taller. He was wearing dark clothing.

Police are now urging elderly residents to take extra care checking the identity of callers and say people in any doubt should keep their door closed.