Police are appealing for information following an incident in Devizes where a pensioner was taken in by a doorstep con.

At about 3pm on Thursday, February 5, a man knocked at the door of an 89-year-old disabled man in the Nursteed area.

The man asked the pensioner to come outside and asked him if he wanted to buy a generator he was selling so he could travel back to Ireland.

The pensioner handed over £200 for the generator which he later discovered did not work.

The man is described as white, about 6ft tall, of large build with short dark hair, who spoke with a broad Irish accent.

A second man was seen in a van parked outside the house, but did not get out of the vehicle and kept his head down.

PC Cath Hollands, of the crime management unit, said: "These males have preyed on an elderly man and taken advantage in a callous and calculated way.

"This type of crime is often under-reported as the victims feel that somehow they are at fault for being taken in.

"However, these fraudsters are completely plausible and we would urge anyone who has been approached in this manner to come forward and report it to police immediately.”

Anyone with information should call PC Hollands on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.