VULNERABLE elderly and disabled people could be at risk after a council began identifying homes that need help with their wheelie bin, it was claimed today.

Hyndburn Council offers assistance to anyone who has difficulty putting their bin out for collection.

To help refuse collectors identify those homes, bins outside are marked with a code -- which the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has agreed not to reveal.

The bin can then be collected and returned from the front of the house by refuse staff.

But local support groups for the elderly and the disabled said the scheme could make vulnerable people the target of bogus callers, who would easily work out the system.

Hyndburn Council said the scheme was a way to keep the collections running smoothly.

But the police's community safety team said it was concerned about the scheme and would be taking its concerns up with the council. Sgt Graham Eccles said: "As far as I am aware we haven't had any problems as a result of this, but that is not to say that it couldn't lead to the targeting of vulnerable and elderly people in the future.

"Perhaps it is something that the council ought to review and I will be taking it up with them."

Patrick Collister, chief officer at Age Concern Hyndburn, said: "I would agree that any indication on someone's house that they are vulnerable or frail to the wrong type of person could be information they could use to take advantage.

"There have been cases where bogus callers have targeted houses because they have hand rails outside. Similarly these markings could indicate that someone is vulnerable, frail or infirm and make them an easy target.

"I would have thought it would be just as easy to give refuse collectors a list of the properties that need help."

He added: "In Hyndburn a lot of work is being done to combat bogus callers and protect older people and you would have thought that someone would have made the connection between putting a sign on someone's house and the potential for crime."

Barry Ryan, 60, of Gordon Avenue, needs help with his bin, after suffering a stroke five years ago. The retired social worker said he would consider covering the marking on his bin for safety.

He said: "The binmen put it on, and when they come round and see I need help they come and take the bin away."

Steve Todd, chief environmental services officer, said the code would help the council provide an efficient service.