POLICE are warning residents not to give cash to out-of- tune carol singers.

Officers said there have been a number of calls to the police about a group of bad singers asking homeowners to cough up cash in the Clacton area.

PC Dan Heard, from Brightlingsea police station, is concerned they may be targeting the vulnerable.

He said: “A few people have been knocking on doors, singing badly and then trying to get money for the performance.

“Obviously, it is a bit of worry if they are getting money, especially off the vulnerable.

“By the descriptions given to us it certainly doesn’t seem to be legitimate carol singers, as you would expect them to have a bit of tinsel, some candles and maybe a song or a hymn sheet.”

PC Heard, who tweeted his followers on social networking website Twitter to warn them about the dodgy singers, said the out of tune culprits are described as being “scruffy”.