An 88-year-old woman was left with only five pence after callous cowboy traders conned her in her Leigh home.

Police say valuables worth £300 were taken during the raid in Elmsleigh Drive on Saturday.

In the latest incident on Saturday, a man called on the elderly woman claiming he had come to repair roof tiles.

But Det Con Phil Brochen, from Leigh, said the woman turned the man away saying she already employed someone else.

Det Con Brochen said: "He asked for a drink of water and followed her into the kitchen. While her attention was diverted another man entered the house and snatched her bag.

"They took all her cash and personal belongings in the bag. She was more bothered that she would not be able to pay her gas bill as they left her with only five pence."

And in a similar scam over a week ago, conmen targeted a confused elderly Southend man in his home convincing him to hand over £2,500 of his savings.

In a case believed not to be connected, police are hunting two men who called on a house in Napier Avenue, Southend claiming they needed to fix some tiles on the roof.

The elderly homeowner was taken to his bank where he was told to withdraw £2,500 and hand it over.

Anyone with information about the latest case should call Southend police on 01702 431212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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