A CONMAN fled with a Ledbury couple's life savings after he talked his way in and ransacked their home.

The man, who was carrying fake identification, tricked 93-year-old Lena Mayo into staying in the kitchen while he searched the bungalow.

The thief, who escaped with £820, threw her husband, Albert Mayo's, walking frame into the corner so he could continue his search unhindered.

For up to 30 minutes he broke off locks, opened drawers and tins and scattered clothes in what Police have described as "an untidy search" of the pensioners' bungalow.

There was little the couple could have done even if they had been aware from the start what was going on, said Mrs Mayo.

"If he had hit my husband it would have killed him," she said, "I couldn't have hit him because he would have hit me back."

She added: "You should have seen the bedroom, the mess it was in with my clothes all over the floor. That was the most upsetting. There are some horrible folks about.

"No one will be allowed in through the door unless I recognise them. I won't let anyone in again."

The man had arrived on the doorstep between 4.30pm and 4.45pm last Friday (June 16), claiming to be from the water board.

He produced a two-inch square ID card bearing a photograph and claiming, falsely, to be the relative of a neighbour as well as a water board official.

The Mayos have lived in the Ledbury area all their lives and during his conversation with Mrs Mayo, the burglar displayed some local knowledge.

He distracted her by asking her to run the taps in the kitchen and check the pressure.

DC Neil Walters, of Hereford CID, said: "Since this occurred last Friday, reports of suspicious incidents in the Ledbury area have been coming in concerning individuals who knocked on doors."

DC Walters said there had been three or four such cases. In one incident, a man claimed to be trimming a hedge for a neighbour and asked for access to the back garden. This was denied and when the caller's story was later checked, it was found to be bogus.

Meg Rendle, of Ledbury Age Concern, who described the ransacking of the Mayo's home a "disgraceful", said: "What we're saying, regardless of IDs, is that if a caller doesn't have an appointment, don't let them in. If they have an appointment, make sure there's someone with you when they call."

Mrs Rendle said that someone from Age Concern could be there to keep a pensioner company for expected visits from officials, if they gave a couple of days notice and rang 01531 631280.

Door chains can also be fitted free by Age Concern.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the burglary. Anyone with information, should phone 01432 276422 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.

The offender is described as about 30 years of age, thin, around 5ft 3 inches tall and with a moustache.

He was wearing a black crew neck jumper, black trousers and training shoes.