Home insurance risk form unidentified visitors

Research from a home insurance company has shown the risks some older people are taking with visitors to their home .

According to Saga, one in six over-75s let salesmen into their house without checking their ID .

Meanwhile, only a third of homeowners aged over 50 keep their door locked all day although, in general, the tradition of leaving the door open for neighbours to walk in is fading.

Andrew Goodsell, executive chairman, Saga Group, said that people were right to be wary about who they let into the house.

He added: Always ask to see identification before allowing a salesperson into your home. As a homeowner it is your right to refuse entry if you suspect they might be a bogus visitor.

A recent report by Halifax Home Insurance found that eight million rural residents do not have a burglar alarm fitted, with many of them not seeing the point in having one.

The research also pointed out that people in rural areas were less likely to ask their neighbours to check their house when they are away than urban dwellers.