A CONMAN may be taking money from village businesses by posing as a parish magazine and school fundraiser.

A Rawdon launderette owner became suspicious after she and her husband were approached three times by a man asking for £30 for different causes.

Cath Knowles, owner of More Bubbles, on Harrogate Road, said she paid £30 to a man last August, believing he was collecting for Rawdon Parish Church magazine.

The business paid out another £30 earlier this year to a man claiming to be collecting for a Rawdon Cricket Club magazine. She and her husband became suspicious when they were approached again last week by someone claiming to be from Benton Park School.

She said: "We asked for an address and he wouldn't give us one. That's when we began to suspect."

She now fears other businesses in Rawdon may be conned into parting with more money.

Vicar of Rawdon Parish Church, the Rev Chris Morris, was saddened to hear the conman has used the church's name. He said: "This man is not from our magazine. We don't approach firms, they approach us if they want to advertise"

Rawdon Cricket Club also said they were unaware of the man's activities and said any correspondence from them would use the club's official headed-paper.

Deputy head teacher of Benton Park School, Harvey Lambley, said the school was extremely concerned if someone is using its name for fraud, and would help police in any way it could.

He said if the school was to seek sponsorship, the head teacher would do it personally.

Weetwood Police neighbourhood watch liaison officer Peter Krushniak said people should not part with any money unless they are certain of the caller's identity, or are given an official registered charity number.

He said shopkeepers in Rawdon had also been targeted several years ago by conmen claiming to be members of a neighbourhood watch group.

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