MEMBERS of the public have been warned to delete emails which falsely claim to be from the Crown Prosecution Service.

The emails include a summons to appear as a witness at court and false start time and court details are included in a link.

A spokesman for the CPS said the link should not be opened amid fears it contains a virus and stressed the organisation does not email witnesses to summon them to court.

A scam email seen by the Daily Echo asks the recipient to appear at the Central London County Court next month and claims to be from a Witness Care Agent called Mr Hodgson.

It says: "You are hereby summoned to attend to court and produce documents to the court. It is extremely advised that you read the subpoena you were sent very carefully.

"This will state exactly what the procedures will be if you fail to do what is required of you."