POLICE are warning people to beware of a scam that is currently taking place around West Devon.

Sgt David Anning at Tavistock Police Station said: 'If you should receive a card through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) then be very wary. The card will suggest they have tried to deliver a parcel to you and helpfully provides a telephone number for you to call.

'Royal Mail have confirmed that cards bearing the number 0906 6611911 have been delivered. This is a premium rate number linked to Belize of all places. If you ring the number then by the time you start hearing the recorded message you will have been charged a fee of an astonishing £315.'

Sgt Anning asked residents to bear this in mind when receiving anything through the post asking people to ring a number.

'Once people cotton on to this scam, similar ones will follow,' he added.

Anyone who has received one of these cards is asked to contact Royal Mail Fraud on 0207 239 6655.