Police want to hear from traders who may have been conned by a teenage girl posing as a school student seeking sponsorship.

The girl, who has claimed to represent Queensbury Upper School and the Telegraph & Argus, has been active in the area for seven weeks.

She has approached businesses and shops in Wibsey, Wyke and Normanton, asking for sponsorship for a school project. Several businesses have booked space in a school 'publication' and paid cash up-front for non-existent adverts.

The school has written to parents of its 850 pupils, warning them about the scam.

"The scam is being operated at quite a sophisticated level and is quite lucrative," said head teacher Richard Moore.

He added: "She has no connection with the school at all, and is giving a false name. It's very worrying and is bringing our school into disrepute."

He added that the school would never send out pupils collecting sponsorship door-to-door and firms should be suspicious if approached in this way.

David Lowdell, a photographer from Towngate, Wyke, handed the girl £5 as a deposit on a £15 advert but has not seen her since.

"Something was not quite right, so I rang the school," he said. "Traders need to be warned."

Julie Hodgson, display advertising manager for the T&A, said she was concerned.

"All Bradford and District Newspapers' sales staff have identification and any advertisers who are in any doubt are advised to contact the paper direct on (01274) 729511," she said.

The woman is white, 5ft 4ins tall, slim, with a pale, spotty complexion and often wears a yellow puffer-type jacket.

PC Maboob Hussain, of Odsal police, said: "We would like anyone who has been approached by a woman of this description who said they were from Queensbury School to contact us on (01274) 376666."

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