A WOMAN who chased two “fake” RSPCA inspectors away is warning people dognappers might be in the area.

Ellie Petty says two suspicious men approached her door and were asking questions about her dog’s name, breed and age.

“They were trying to get general information and I suspected they would come back later,” she said. “After I challenged them they ran away, throwing away their navy blue RSPCA tabards. I followed them up Wilton Road and they had parked their car at the cricket club.”

She added that, after posting on Facebook about her encounter with the two men, she received reports from others in area saying that they had visits from suspicious men.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA can confirm that door-to-door fundraisers have been working in the Salisbury area recently.

“All door-to-door fundraising is regulated by the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (pfra.org.uk) which has a clear code of conduct for all fundraisers, including requiring them to provide clear forms of ID and to be open and honest when talking to members of the public.”

Suspicious activity should be reported to the police.