Fears have been raised over doorstep charity collectors after an elderly woman was persuaded to hand over £4,000 for a chair.

Police officers in Great Harwood say the woman was stopped from handing over the money after a neighbour intervened and called the police.

Officers confirmed they had received a report of a suspicious incident on Mill Lane, Great Harwood.

A spokesman said the woman was asked to pay an “excessive” amount for a chair and also offered to have her vacuum cleaner serviced.

The incident occurred on Mill Lane, Great Harwood.

A spokesman said the woman was asked to pay an “excessive” amount for a chair and also offered to have her vacuum cleaner serviced.

Meanwhile warnings have been issued that some vulnerable residents have been intimidated by charity collectors into handing over cash or setting up regular payments.

Great Harwood county councillor Gareth Molineux claimed some ‘chuggers’ – or charity muggers – were becoming a significant problem. Speaking at an area council meeting, he said: “At the moment across Lancashire we are getting a substantial amount of chuggers. They guilt you into giving money by standing in front of you at a market to sign direct debit payments.

“What they are doing more recently is knocking on people’s doors and guilt you on the doorstep to signing direct debits. They do also have quite a knack of making you feel guilty in your own home. Don’t feel pressured. Ask them politely to leave.” He added: “If you want to give to a charity the best way to do it is go to their website and do it that way.  Don’t give money to people on the doors because they might be legitimate collectors but they may also not be.”

PC Dave Render said their neighbourhood policing team had received two recent complaints of doorstep callers preying on vulnerable members of the public.

Last year, Hyndburn Council introduced a ban on chuggers in Accrington town centre, claiming they had a ‘duty to protect shoppers’ from being stopped in the street and asked to sign up to make donations.