A thief stole £500 from a pensioner's home after pretending to be a water worker.

He knocked on her door at Hawkins Way in Wootton, near Abingdon, between 4.30pm and 5pm on Wednesday.

He claimed there was a problem with the water pressure and needed to check the pipes, then made the woman move items from under the sink while he claimed to be checking the colour of the water.

When he left, she discovered a bedroom had been ransacked and £500 was missing.

The burglar was described as white, 5ft 10in, stocky and aged about 50, with a round faceand short brown hair. He was wearing jeans.

Pc Stephen Knight said: "I urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area at the time, to contact the police."

Anyone with information should Pc Knight on 08458 505505.