POLICE are urging the public to trust their instincts after an elderly man was conned out of £300 by telephone fraudsters claiming to be from the police.

The incident is believed to have occurred when a man was called at about 8.30pm by fraudsters who told him they were the police and his bank account had been compromised.

They told him they had been investigating and they needed the man to surrender his bank card and pin number so they could investigate.

The man said he wouldn't do that so they told him they had cleared it with his son.

So they told him to put the bank card under the door mat as it was late. They collected it straight away. The card was used at to withdraw £300.

A police spokesman said: "The scams are very elaborate and very convincing and cruel. If you think someone is trying to scam you, tell someone straight away. Don't be pressured. Give yourself time to stop and think.

"Please remember the police will never contact you asking for your bank card or cash. If they do, it's a scam - report it immediately."

They added they are asking the public to talk to people, particularly elderly relatives or neighbours and to tell them about these cases and ask them not to trust anyone who asks them for their bank details.