An elderly man was tricked into handing cash over to fraudsters who posed as a police officers.

Kent Police says a man in his 80s from London Road, Farningham, was called at the start of December by a man who said he was a police officer investigating builders who had previously carried out work at his house.

The caller told the victim that an officer would come to his house as they required some further cash for evidential reasons; after which the victim withdrew a quantity of money from his bank and later handed it over.

Detective Inspector Mat Scott said: "Police officers would never ask a victim of crime to hand over cash to assist with their enquiries. I would urge anybody who receives a call from somebody stating they are a police officer, and who asks them to withdraw money from a bank or building society for collection later, to be immediately suspicious.

"If you have any doubts about whether a telephone caller is genuine, ask them to call back at a time convenient to you and when you've had a chance to ask someone to be with you.

"You can also contact Kent Police on 101 to check if a person claiming to be a police officer is genuine."