A CALLOUS con man tricked 93-year-old Daisy Rogers out of her heating bill savings this week Daisy, who lives on the top floor Bridge House block of flats in Skerton, had just come out of hospital after treatment to her legs, before the con man, who posed as a council smoke alarm installer. Despite her years Daisy is very alert but was duped by the 'official looking man' wearing an identification badge, who knocked on her door at 8.30am.

"I'm just grateful he didn't clobber me. But I feel I've been a silly old fool," said Daisy. "You hear of old ladies getting battered to death for their money, so I was lucky in one way. But that was money I needed. And I had some really treasured things of my own in there."

"I wasn't feeling 100 per cent by a long chalk because I was just out of hospital. I heard this banging on the door. I didn't get up straight away but it kept on and I got up, although I was still half asleep. It sounded like someone might be worried about me.

"He was a big fellow. I did check for ID. He was wearing a badge but I couldn't see it properly, I was wearing the wrong glasses.

"Anyway, he just went, I never thought any more about it. Then I had to pay a friend some money later and it hit me my purse had gone.

"I had a photograph of my late husband Joe in there. That picture was really precious to me. And I had a religious medal given to me by when I was young by an old woman."

The con man stole the purse that had about £53 inside. He also snatched the £2 Daisy had left on her mantelpiece for her the collection at her local church.

But the con man has failed to knock Daisy's spirit. She hasn't even told her family, who live out of the area, about the theft - she didn't want them to worry.

After more than 70 years in Lancaster, and 33 in Bridge House, Skerton, Daisy will be fighting fit for some time yet.

Police are looking for a white male, 40 to 50 years old, 5ft 10ins to 6ft, with a bobble hat pulled down over his ears, stubbly beard and a donkey jacket buttoned up from the neck.

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