People are being warned to beware of a bogus Southern Electric official after a uniform was stolen in Wallingford.

A waterproof yellow jacket, marked with the letters SEC, was stolen from Southern Electric's sub-station in Moreton Avenue, together with a hard hat.

Spokesman Debbie Smith said: "People should beware of bogus callers and always ask to see identification before letting anyone into their home. As always, it's the old and vulnerable who are at risk."

She said the uniform stolen was of the kind worn by engineers for outdoor work rather than meter-reading.

"Genuine callers will carry a pass and people can call the telephone number on it to check credentials before letting anyone in," she added.

Copper cabling and other equipment was also stolen during the break-in.

SEC stands for Southern Electric Contracting, the subsidiary of Southern Electric which deals with domestic and commercial re-wiring, and street-lighting.

The telephone number to check callers' identification is 0800 622838.