Police are warning elderly people to be on their guard after con artists who claimed they were council workmen duped a woman out of a large amount of cash.

The two men, who said they had come to replace a door, conned their way into the 86-year-old woman's home in Greenhead Road, Keighley, and asked her for money up front to carry out the work.

She handed over a substantial amount of money, and it is believed they also stole more money from the house before leaving via the front door.

The incident took place on Monday, between 12.05 and 12.30pm, and Keighley police are calling for any witnesses to come forward and for people to be vigilant.

Sergeant Allan Gee says: "People, particularly elderly people, should not under any circumstances grant access to their house when they are not entirely sure about the person's identification.

"People from the council and other organisations will always have proper identification and should always be requested to produce it.

"If people are still not satisfied they should get in touch with the relevant company and ask for confirmation.

"We would advise elderly people to put a chain on their door, and for that matter they should be very guarded about keeping large amounts of money in their house."

One con-man is described as white, who spoke with an Irish accent, about 40 years old, 5ft 8in tall, reasonably well built, with short dark hair and wearing a waist length jacket.

The only description of the second man is that he is taller and thinner.

Anyone with information should contact crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.