POLICE are warning residents to be vigilant after a 92-year-old man was targeted in a cash scam.

The victim was persuaded to hand over the cash by a younger man in a supermarket car park between 11.30am and noon on Tuesday.

The pensioner was sat in his car in the Sainsbury's car park in Farlington, Portsmouth, when a younger man approached him saying he needed money to buy diesel.

The elderly man was then persuaded to sit in the younger man's car, and money was taken from his wallet before he was driven to the cash machine at the supermarket where more money was withdrawn.

In total £70 was taken from him before he was given six boxes containing watches which the younger man claimed were more valuable than the cash handed over.

The man is described as white, about 5ft 8ins tall, with a round face and short hair.

He spoke with a Spanish accent and was smartly dressed and clean shaven.

PC Hayley McMillan said: “Anyone who saw this man and the victim in a dark saloon car around this time is asked to contact police as soon as possible.

“I would also remind people that they should not hand over money to people who claim they need immediate financial help, or get into a stranger’s car in order to go to a cash machine to withdraw money.

“If a stranger does approach them and asks for money or offers to drive them to a cash machine, they should refuse. If the stranger persists, they should go to the nearest shop and ask for assistance and for the police to be called.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the police on 101, quoting reference 44160068730.