A crook posing as a policeman conned his way into an elderly East Sussex woman's home and stole £1,000.

The bogus officer knocked on the door of the 89 year-old's house in Millstream Gardens, Wannock, near Polegate, on Wednesday.

He told her he had seen two people in her garden behaving suspiciously and she invited him in when he showed her some identification.

He asked her to check her money was still in its place, which it was, but the pensioner discovered the cash had gone missing after he had left.

The thief was white, 5ft 9in tall and thin. He had short straight dark hair and a local accent and wore a long dark overcoat.

After the theft he drove away in a dark coloured car.

Police are warning Wannock residents to be on their guard. Anyone with information should call PC Rogers of Polegate police on 0845 6070999.