'SUSPICIOUS' salesmen are targeting homes in rural Dorset, police have warned.

Officers with Dorset Police's rural crime team have called for residents to stay vigilant after some homeowners were offered tools for sale.

The tools are being sold from the back of commercial vehicles, including vans, for cheap prices.

PCSO Tom Balchin said: "The tools that are offered for sale are generally generators, chainsaws and other hand and petrol tools.

"We would just like to remind people to beware of this type of salesman.

"They will try and sell tools, often for cheap prices, but this is normally because the tools are of substandard quality and don’t adhere to health and safety standards.

"The items will not come with a receipt and have no warranty with them if they break. Most of the time tools are cheap copies of genuine brands.

"Often while these persons are at a farm or rural premises, they'll be having a look around and asking lots of questions."

Anyone with information should contact police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101. Informants should try to gather as much information as possible, include registration plates and descriptions of the driver and any passengers.