POLICE have new eyes on the streets of north Gwent in the war against bogus callers - council workers.

Blaenau Gwent council employees are to work with police in a bid to catch those who prey on elderly and vulnerable people.

An "early warning" scheme, aimed at catching the conmen in the act, will involve the local council's fleet of 200 vehicles and their drivers.

The scheme - the first of its kind in south Wales - was thought up by the Bryn-mawr, Nantyglo and Blaina Partnership Against Crime.

This year nine crimes involving bogus callers have been reported to local police.

In April the Argus revealed a bogus policeman conned an 80-year-old widower from Abertillery out of his savings, by saying he was checking for counterfeit cash.

In May we reported that bogus council officials were targeting pensioners in both Ebbw Vale and Abertillery.

Now, as part of the new Bogus Caller Watch scheme, as soon as police receive information about such callers operating, they will pass the information to the local council's central depot in Brynmawr.

Council leader John Hopkins said: "The information, which could be a description of a vehicle used by offenders, a registration number, or a description of the offenders themselves, is then instantly radioed out to every one of the council's fleet of 200 vans and lorries.

"Workers scattered across the county borough are asked to watch out for the vehicle or individuals involved and, if they spot them, report back to the central depot."

The depot then reports sightings back to the police - increasing the chances of officers swooping and arresting the suspects.

Partnership chairman Bernard Thomas said: "The hills will have eyes and culprits will never know if they are being watched."

PC Iwan Jones, crime prevention officer for Blaenau Gwent, said the number of such crimes in the county borough is lower than the national average - there are around 12,000 reported nationally each year - possibly because Blaenau Gwent is not seen as a particularly affluent area.

"But these are such despicable crimes. The average age of the victim is about 81," he said.

* In the picture: Council workers like Dean Howells will be on the lookout for bogus callers.