Police have issued an urgent appeal for help in tracing a man who may have information about alleged incidents of deception thefts.

South Devon detectives want to speak to a man after two pensioners fell victim to a doorstep conman.

Police are probing two incidents where a man convinced elderly people to part with their money and bank cards after spinning a story about not having any money and needing some.

Officers are looking at two similar and linked allegations which took place in Dawlish and Starcross on Wednesday, January 25.

In one incident a woman in her 90s from Dawlish was hoodwinked into going with the man to Natwest after he knocked on her door and talked his way in, later asking for money.

In the second a man from Starcross had over £300 taken after inviting a man fitting the same description in to his house.

Detective Sergeant Alex Dawson said: "This is a particularly callous, despicable crime where the suspect targeted not just the elderly, but the vulnerable within that community. He befriended them, used their emotions and convinced them to part with over £600 altogether. The victims are distraught and traumatised and the suspect should not be walking the streets."

Detectives have released CCTV images from Starcross Spar of a man they wish to speak to.

The man is described as being white male, between 50 and 60, thick set. He is bald on top, short brown hair back and sides. He was wearing a light brown coat with a dark brown collar, chequered shirt and light coloured trousers with dirty white shoes or trainers. He was carrying a black bag, hand luggage sized, with a shoulder strap.

Police are appealing not just for witnesses, but for anyone who may also have been a victim. Call police on phone number 101 quoting long number 546 of January 25 in relation to the Dawlish incident or crime number JG12 152 for Starcross.