A 96-year-old wept as she described how a thief conned his way into her flat and stole her holiday money.

Great-great-grandmother Edith Skalski said she was so ashamed that it was two days before she could tell her family her £1,000 savings were missing.

Now her week's holiday in a cottage in Derbyshire with her son Derek De-Swarte and daughter-in-law, planned for later this month, has been cancelled because she cannot afford the trip.

Mrs Skalski, who is partially deaf and has no sight in one eye, said she had not slept since the theft.

She said: "If I ever came into contact with him I would chop his hands off so he wouldn't do it again."

The conman called at her sheltered flat in Crawley, on Saturday, August 25, claiming he needed to measure her windows for double glazing.

Mrs Skalski said: "I let him in because at first I thought he was the television repair man I was expecting. When he got into the hall he said he had come to measure for double glazing.

"We are due to have double glazing in these flats and I thought he was genuine."

Mrs Skalski remained in the sitting room while the man measured her windows.

She said: "I thought it was all above board but when I thought about it later, I realised he did not have a clipboard and did not write down the measurements.

"He only had a tape measure with him and was in the flat for less than ten minutes. The only time he spoke to me was to tell me he was measuring up and to answer my questions. He left without saying anything.

"I don't know how he could have been so quick to find the drawer where I keep my money. Nothing else was disturbed. I don't normally keep money in the house. It wouldn't have been there if I hadn't been saving for a holiday."

Mrs Skalski discovered the theft two hours later when one of her sons invited her on a shopping trip to Crawley and she went to get money from the same drawer.

She said: "I was stunned, I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to tell anyone because I felt so stupid. If I had not expected the repair man I probably wouldn't have let him in.

"Now if I hear a little noise I am a bundle of nerves. I would like to use my white stick on him."

Mrs Skalski - a widow who has four children, eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren - warned other elderly residents not to keep money in their homes and to check the identity of callers before letting them in.

Another of her sons, Ivan De-Swarte, said he noticed his mother seemed shaky on their shopping trip.

He said: "I would like to see more security for elderly people in flats. Wardens should be involved every time work people are called in."

The thief was in his 20s, 5ft 6in tall, slim and softly spoken. He was wearing dark jacket and trousers and a blue baseball cap with white writing on the front.

Detective Constable Kevin Parker said: "This would be a sad crime at any time but bearing in mind this was meant to be the lady's holiday money it makes it particularly wicked."

Anyone with information should call the police on 0845 6070999.