A woman posing as a social worker conned her way into a family home and ordered two young children to strip to their nappies. The unnerving incident on Friday prompted police to warn parents to be on their guard. Although the children in this case were not harmed, detectives fear it could have been an attempt to abduct or abuse the children, aged two years and ten weeks old.

The woman, who gave her name as Vicky and wore a silver half moon nose stud, knocked at the house in Stanway saying she was a social worker from the child protection team.

She said she had received an anonymous call alleging the children were being mistreated and needed to examine them.

She produced a black wallet containing her photograph with the words Colchester Borough Council on it. It also had the letters CP on the right.

She was allowed into the house and asked the mother general questions about the children before ordering her to undress the children down to their nappies.

The mother was then asked to wait in the kitchen while the children were examined. The mother refused and became suspicious.

Later inquiries confirmed the social worker was a fake and police were alerted. A Colchester police spokesman said: "This is a very worrying incident. The suspect knew the names of the children and the mother.

"She used her mobile phone allegedly to call a GP and could be heard asking questions about illnesses and treatments.

"It is difficult to know what her motive was. But one never knows what could have happened if the mother had complied with the request to wait in the kitchen."

Police stressed health visitors and social workers did not just turn up unannounced. They also urged parents to check credentials by calling the organisation callers claimed to be from. If anyone was in doubt they should ring 999.

The bogus social worker is white, aged between 25 and 30, about 5ft 9ins tall with dark brown hair in a waist-length plait. She carried a document folder and wore a grey skirt, grey court shoes, and a white shirt.

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Telephone 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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