POLICE have issued a warning to the elderly after conmen struck at three nearby houses within 30 minutes.

The would-be thieves targeted elderly residents in Moorside Avenue, Sumner Avenue and Church Street in Ainsworth between 11.30am and 11.50am on Thursday (Aug 22).

In each case the con failed.

Police are investigating whether the three incidents were linked.

All the conmen were white. One was 5ft 6ins tall with short fair hair. He was wearing a light-coloured bomber jacket and was seen to get in to a black car with a red strip across it.

The second was said to be around 18 years-old and clean shaven. The third was described as being aged 25, wearing an earring and of an "unsavoury" appearance.

A police spokesman said: "We are again urging members of the public, particularly the elderly, to make use of door chains when not expecting a call.

And they should always check the callers' identity. If the caller is genuine they will not run off but stay until they have been identified."