Police have again repeated warnings for people to be on their guard from bogus workers calling at their homes.

In the latest in a string of similar incidents, a man yesterday called at the home of an elderly couple in St Clair's Drive, Colchester, and demanded £15 for work he claimed to have carried out on their roof.

The occupant told the man he had not authorised any work and told him to go away.

But the man walked across the room and picked up a purse containing £60 before making off.

He has been described as white, in his 20s, with dark hair and a dark coat.

Det Sgt Roger Napier said: "We would reissue the warning for people not to let others into their houses claiming to have done work which has not been authorised."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.