A man spent £1,000 buying eight televisions and 11 videos from the back of a van, and then found they did not work.

The victim, who has not been named, was approached by a man with an Irish accent in central Hove.

He asked the victim if he was interested in buying a cheap video or TV set and took him to a white van with the registration number S617 EVK, parked nearby.

After inspecting the equipment, which appeared to be in good condition, he agreed to pay £1,000 for them.

He was given a receipt in the name of Patrick Ward by the van owner.

When he got them home he discovered they were all ex-rental sets which did not work.

Police traced the registration number of the van to a caravan site in Doncaster, but there was no trace of a Patrick Ward there.

Sgt Steve Barry, of Hove police, said: "This is becoming a more frequent problem at we would urge people not to buy equipment of this kind from someone who approaches them in the street."