BUSINESSES in Medway have been pestered by a bogus charity. At least five companies in the area have been targeted by callers saying they are from the Drugs Awareness Group and asking for money or claiming they had been promised money and threatening to sue.

Betty Harrison at Minuteman Press said: "A man called and said he was producing a booklet for local schools and he wanted us to contribute. I told him Minuteman is a franchise and asked him to send some information. A week later he rang again asking for money and said he had a recording of me promising to give some money but I said I hadn't agreed to anything.

"He called a third time and was quite stroppy, threatening to prosecute me but I told him he had nothing in writing."

Gary Crouch of Anatex Internet Services had a phone call from a man who said someone at the company had promised him money. He said: "I had been warned about these calls so I said 'No you didn't' and hung up."

Hamish Mackay Miller, owner of Rainham Bookshop, was asked for £190 but when he asked for the address of the group, the line went dead. Mr Mackay Miller has contacted the Federation of Small Businesses and he wants to make sure that no-one is taken in.

He would like to hear from anyone who has been approached. His number is 01634 388812.