Elderly residents in Winchester are being warned to be on the guard against bogus callers, pretending to be from the "water board".

Police have received two reports of suspicious callers gaining access to elderly people's homes.

In the first, a man claiming to represent the water board, arrived at an elderly widow's house in St Cross Road, St Cross.

She allowed the man into her house,and left the front door unlocked. He talked to the woman for a few minutes. After he left, the lady reported £500 in cash was missing from her bedroom. Police believe a second person may have entered the house through the unlocked door and stolen the money.

The caller is described as a white, aged 30-45, about 6ft one, stocky, with a moustache, short dark hair and wearing dark clothes.

Just 15 minutes before the theft in St Cross Road, two men, again claiming to represent the water board, talked their way into a elderly man's house in Wavell Way, Stanmore.

One kept the pensioner talking in the kitchen while the second went upstairs. Nothing was stolen.

The first man is described as white, aged 40-45, 6ft, stocky, clean-shaven and with short, dark hair.

The second is aged 35-40, with a thin build, light brown collar-length hair, clean-shaven and wearing a jumper.

Police are urging elderly residents, especially those living alone, to ask for identification from callers.