ELDERLY residents are being urged to double check all visitors following the revelation more than 180 council staff across Essex have the power to enter homes without a warrant.

Paul Teague, Essex Police watch co-ordinator for Tendring, said bogus callers could take advantage of the situation to get into peoples homes.

Last week figures revealed by civil liberty campaign group Big Brother Watch revealed 186 council inspectors can enter private property without a warrant or police escort.

The figure, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, includes 80 Essex County Council staff, 60 of which are Trading Standards officers and 20 of which are planning officers. There are also 13 members of staff at Tendring Council with similar powers.

Mr Teague said: “A number of agencies have the right of entry to your home.

“It is most important that our lonely vulnerable residents are made aware that local criminals may try to take advantage of this.

“They must double check all unexpected visitors to their home and to contact the organisation that they state they are from by telephone.”

He said they should get the number from the telephone book and not from the person at the door.

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators across the district are being asked to speak to elderly people in their areas about the issue.

Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, criticised councils for dishing out powers of entry to officers without giving due thought to the public's right to privacy, but Essex County Council said it would only give it to people who require it for their day-to-day work.