HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned by police to be wary after men believed to be burglars tried getting into a home posing as water board officials.

The two culprits knocked on a door in Hatters Lane in High Wycombe on Thursday about 10am, police said today.

The men claimed they were checking a blocked drainage system.

After looking at the drainage at the front and rear of the house, one of the offenders attempted to walk through into the house but the elderly man ushered him out. They then said they would be back with a digger to unblock the sewage but they never returned.

Nothing was stolen.

Water authorities later said they were not carrying any work in the area.

The men were white and looked to be in their fifties, about 6ft with long brown hair, of large build, one of them was wearing a yellow T-shirt under his jacket and the other man was wearing a light-coloured suit.

Det Con Richard Hobson, from High Wycombe police station, said: “I would like to hear from anyone who saw these men in the area acting suspiciously, or if you had a knock on your door by people claiming to have come from the water board.”

Call the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101 and ask to speak to Det Con Hobson or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.