A BOGUS 'delivery man' has duped Horsforth pub landlords into parting with hundreds of pounds, police revealed this week.

In recent weeks, the con man, who has no goods to sell, has struck in Horsforth, across Leeds and as far away as Harrogate and Huddersfield. Weetwood CID is investigating four such incidents in its division alone.

In each case, the man has found out the name of the landlord of the pub before entering, but police claim he chooses his timing carefully. He often turns up during mid-afternoon, to coincide with when the publican will be having a break from a busy period.

Detective Sergeant Ian Green, of Weetwood Police, said that the trickster approaches staff and, mentioning the landlord's name, claims to be delivering beer, cigarettes or spirits.

He then gives staff a bogus receipt and asks for cash before returning to his vehicle to get the goods. But the man then disappears, conning landlords of up to £150 in cash.

Det Sgt Green said the trickster's slick lies made him extremely believable and urged other pubs who have been taken in by the scam to contact him at Weetwood Police. "He is completely confident in his manner and very plausible," he said.

The con man is described as white, in his mid to late thirties, 5ft 8in tall with collar-length fair to greying hair. He speaks with a Yorkshire accent.

Anyone with any information should contact Weetwood CID on (0113) 241 3485.

l Police and fire officers are investigating a car fire on Otley Old Road, above Bramhope at 8pm on Tuesday night.

The Astra car, believed to have been stolen, had been reversed into forestry gates and then set ablaze. It was gutted and the gates were destroyed.

The driver had run off by the time police and fire officers got to the scene.

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