Residents are being told to be on their guard after a man was seen acting suspiciously.

Two people reported the man to police after seeing him in Abels Road and Ramsey Road, in Halstead, last Wednesday.

One Abels Road resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “He came round here and knocked on the door.

“He said he had recently been released from prison and as part of his probation scheme he was told to go round and meet people.

“The man said he needed them to say he was friendly and if he got 20 signatures, the government would put him on a training scheme.

“He had no ID on him and kept looking past my daughter who was at the door and looking into the house.

“When he went off, she called 999 and the police came to search the area for him, but that was the last we heard.”