A headteacher is sending a borough-wide warning as fraudsters masquerading as her pupils continue to con Croydon residents.

Lorna Duggleby, headteacher of Addington High School, is urging kind-hearted householders to turn away any youngsters supposedly from her school who call at their doors seeking sponsorship for a charity event.

"Addington High School has absolutely no sponsored events going on, nor does it have any plans for the future," said the headteacher. "The people doing this are not from the school."

Addington High and the police have been receiving complaints from residents as far afield as Coulsdon, Shirley and Norbury for the past year.

They say bogus fund-raisers have been calling at addresses with letter headed paper from the New Addington school, claiming the "pupils" are involved in a charity event - usually a sponsored walk or fun run for various charities.

Linda Dunning of Pollards Hill South, Norbury, had a call from one of the door-to-door collectors on Friday, January 8.

"He handed me a sheet of letter-headed paper that looked authentic," she said. "He was very polite and well spoken and although I had my doubts I didn't want to appear mean. Most of my neighbours donated money too."

Police at South Norwood have urged residents to be on their guard against unknown collectors.

A spokesman told the Guardian: "If a total stranger comes to your house don't sponsor them unless you are convinced by their identification. With today's computer technology you can copy a school letterhead easily. These rascals are quite ingenious."

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