Pensioners have been warned to be more cautious after a bogus caller got inside a house.

The man knocked on the door of a property in East Grinstead and told the elderly occupant he was installing a washing machine in a house nearby and had burst a pipe.

He said he needed to turn off the woman's water to release pressure.

The woman let him into her home last Friday but asked him to leave when she became suspicious.

The man claimed his boss would be back in ten minutes to confirm his story but no one arrived.

He is in his mid-20s, tall, with curly hair and wore dark trousers and a jumper.

Investigating officer PC Matt Crane said: "Nothing was taken this time but it could so easily have been otherwise.

"If anyone has been approached in a similar way, or knows who this man is, I would urge them to contact me.

"Please do not let unexpected callers into your home. Make sure they provide proof of their identity.

"If they say they are from the gas board or the water board, ring to confirm this. If they have some other story, tell them to come back later.

"If they are genuine, they will not mind you taking this precaution."