The warning comes after rubbish bags outside homes in the West Bridgford area were rifled though over the weekend.

Police are concerned that many people do not realise how much important information everyday waste can contain.

Officers say receipts and statements should be destroyed before being discarded.

Fraud estimate

Chris Robertson, chairman of the West Bridgford residents' group, said: "What I certainly didn't realise is that the information on a credit card receipt was enough for thieves.

"They don't need a statement to be able to use your account."

A survey by credit reference company Experian found that half of all household rubbish contained potentially sensitive information.

Experts estimate this kind of fraud could account for as much as £100m a year in the UK.