A teenage girl conned her way into an elderly woman's home while an accomplice stole from her sleeping husband's pockets.

The girl - who was about 18 and wore a brimmed hat - told the woman she needed a pencil and paper to leave a message for a friend next door.

She followed the pensioner into her home in St John's Terrace, Lewes, while her dark-suited accomplice sneaked into another room.

He stole £30 in coins from a bowl and took a wallet from the pocket of the woman's sleeping husband.

Meanwhile, two bogus council officials stole cash after tricking their way into an elderly man's house in Shoreham.

They said they wanted to check the house windows but stole cash from a bedroom of the home at 2pm on Saturday.

The crooks were in their 20s or 30s and were both short with light brown hair. One wore a tweed jacket and the other a blue shirt.