Householders are being warned to be on their guard after a bogus caller tried to offer a Keighley pensioner fire safety advice.

The man knocked on the elderly woman's door and offered to help her plan what precautions to take during a fire service strike.

She became suspicious and contacted Keighley fire station where officers confirmed no such calls were taking place.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said during the eight-day walkout there will be no community fire safety visits and warned residents to be extra vigilant.

"These bogus callers target vulnerable people. Fortunately this woman had her wits about her and rang the fire station to complain," said a spokesman.

"The message is that if anyone calls at their home please make sure they have proper identification before letting them in and be extra vigilant."

Fire chiefs are once again calling on householders to be alert during the current union pay dispute.

They have warned that the Army's 29 Green Goddesses cannot provide the comprehensive level of fire cover normally available from the county's 65 front-line fire engines.

"It is essential that during strike periods people take extra care," said Chief Fire Officer Phil Toase. "There are 10 simple precautions householders can take to make their homes safer."

They are: fit a smoke alarm and check it regularly; make a plan so that everyone in your house knows how to escape in the event of fire; take care when cooking with hot oil and think about using thermostatically-controlled deep fat fryers; never leave lit candles unattended; ensure cigarettes are stubbed out and disposed of carefully; never smoke in bed; keep matches and lighters away from children; keep clothing away from heaters; take care in the kitchen. Accidents whilst cooking account for 59 per cent of fires in the home; and watch out when you are tired or have been drinking. Half of all deaths in domestic fires happen between 10pm and 8am.

Mr Toase stressed that if a fire started in the home people should get out and still dial 999.

Further eight-day strikes are still planned for December 4 to 12 and December 16 to 24.