A conman stole £1,000 from a pensioner after claiming to be from the water board.

Police today appealed for witnesses who may have seen the thief just before or after he called at a house in Barretts Way, in Sutton Courtenay, on Thursday afternoon.

The man told his victim, an 83-year-old woman, she needed to flush the toilet while he fixed the taps.

When he left the woman realised that £1,000 cash had been stolen.

Officers are linking it with a second burglary in Didcot.

The burglar was white, between 5ft 4in and 5ft 6in, stocky and with thick, dark hair. He had a chubby face and was wearing dark clothing.

Dc Stephen Knight said: “I believe that this man could have got into a back of a four-door, dark black or blue coloured car.

“We believe that this incident could be linked to another distraction burglary that happened on the same day at around 3pm in Barnes Close, Didcot, and am appealing for anyone with any information to contact me.

“I would urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives, neighbours or carers to check their home security and alert them to the dangers of opening the door to a stranger.

“Distraction burglars prey on the elderly and vulnerable. If you see people calling at houses and are suspicious of their intentions, I would urge you to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.