POLICE are hunting for two men who tricked their way into an 82-year-old woman's home and stole her money.

A man claiming to be from the water board called at the woman's house on Haw Grove, Hellifield, at 6.50pm on Tuesday.

He said he needed to check the water supply and was allowed into her home. He checked the water in the kitchen and then went with the woman upstairs to check the water in the bathroom.

A police spokesman said that while they were upstairs someone else must have come into the house and taken the money from a downstairs room.

The man who did all the talking was described as white, 5ft 6ins tall, with short brown hair, an oval face and in his late teens or early 20s.

Police would like to speak to anyone else who has been approached by these men or who has seen them hanging around in the area.

Earlier, a bogus tradesmantricked and stole money from an elderly woman in Gargrave.

At about 1.20pm last Thursday, the man called at the woman's home in Meadow Croft and offered to do some roofing work.

She agreed to have the work done and went inside to get a bucket of water as requested.

When she returned to the door the man had gone but she realised that her purse containing a quantity of cash was missing.

The caller was described as white, aged between 50 and 60 years, with fair hair and wearing a brown and white striped top. It is possible he left in a green car.

Police understand that this man also went to other properties in the area. They would like to speak to anyone who saw him or his vehicle.

DC Steve Menzies said: "It is a despicable crime which has left an elderly lady very upset. I would appeal to anyone in the area who may have seen him to come forward and assist us, then may be we can stop him committing further crimes."

Anyone with information about either should contact Skipton CID on 01756 793377 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.