A householder has warned people to be on their guard after being persuaded to part with cash by a gang of children claiming to be fundraising for their school.

Cynthia Trasi gave a group of young girls 50 pence after they knocked on her door in Shipley and said they were doing a sponsored silence for what she described as Bolton Woods school.

But a Bolton Woods Prinary School governor said no such fundraising venture existed and police are warning residents to ensure callers are genuine before giving money.

Mrs Trasi became suspicious after receiving a second request from a boy who called at her house in Kirkgate collecting for a sponsored silence at Nab Wood school.

She said: "The first time it was a group of about five eight or nine-year-old girls who said they were doing a sponsored silence for Bolton Woods.

"They had a photocopy of a handwritten form. From the names on the form I could see they'd been right along the street and they had handfuls of money.

"My husband said it was a scam and I did think it was a bit odd for young children like that to come all the way from Bolton Woods but I still gave them 50 pence.

"The second time a boy of about 12 to 14 came to the door and said he was doing a sponsored silence for Nab Wood school. I said I'd give him 50 pence once he'd done it which he didn't like.

"There was a group of younger girls waiting for him and there was also a woman with them.''

Mrs Trasi said she had reported the matter to the police, adding: "It's taught me a lesson not to give money unless you know the people and until they've done the event.

"If there is an adult involved it does upset me to think children are being used like that and taught how to defraud people.

"To think they may be taking money from people who are struggling on pensions is very upsetting.''

Governors from Bolton Woods Primary and the grammar and middle schools at Nab Wood said no-one was involved in sponsored silences.

David Heseltine, a governor at Nab Wood Grammar, said: "It's deplorable that some little hoodlums are going round using schools' names without their knowledge or permission and fleecing the public.''

Mavis Wheeler, community governor at Bolton Woods Primary, said: "I'm shocked. It is worrying and it's not fair on people who are doing genuine sponsored events because this sort of thing could effect them.

"We don't encourage our pupils to go round knocking on people's doors.''

Inspector Nigel Cawthorne, of Shipley police, said: "When we have reports of this sort of thing we do investigate them. We warn people that they need to be sure the caller is genuine.''

Anyone with information can call Shipley police on (01274) 537459.

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