Police have warned householders to be on their guard against bogus carpet sellers.

The advice comes after an elderly woman was tricked out of £240 by two conmen who called at her home in Drury Road, Colchester.

The pair said they were working on a new housing project and had some carpet left over.

Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said: "She bought it and they said they would call back the next day to fit it.

"When she unrolled it it was too small and not the quality they said it was."

Both bogus carpet sellers were white men in their 50s who were in a green/blue van. One was 5ft 10ins tall, stocky, and had dark hair.

The other was 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins tall with a beer belly and was wearing a dark blue boiler suit.

Det Sgt Napier said: "We would like to warn others who may be approached by other carpet salesmen. Examine the goods before you part with your money."

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