MEMBERS of the public are being warned to remain vigilant, after a man and a woman knocked on doors in Hitchin, falsely claiming to be fitting solar panels on behalf of the council.

The incidents, which happened on Monday evening, saw a man and a woman knocking on doors in Wilshere Crescent, claiming they were installing the panels.

One of the households became suspicious and reported the matter to North Hertfordshire Homes (NHH), which subsequently alerted North Herts District Council (NHDC) and Herts Police.

Both NHDC and NHH have confirmed that they are not going door-to-door making any such offer.

Cllr Bernard Lovewell, NHDC portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, said: “It seems that these people are going around impersonating council officers in order to try and gain the trust of people.

“We are not certain what their precise motives are, but it does seem to be clear that some kind of scam is going on.”

If anyone encounters someone claiming to be from the council making this, or any other kind, of offer, they should report it to NHDC and contact Herts Police on the non-emergency number 101.

North Herts Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Jason Thorne said: “If you have any concerns about people acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood, don’t hesitate to report it by calling 101. If you suspect a crime is in the process of being committed, always ring 999.

“If it is a legitimate company canvassing, then they won’t mind us checking their credentials. Hitchin is a safe place to live and work, but we would always advise residents to follow our general advice.”