Pensioners are being urged not to tell anyone their bank details over the phone after a couple were swindled out of £8,000.

Police say pensioners in Worthing, Hove, and Shoreham have been targeted in recent weeks.

In recent examples, a caller pretending to be from Barclays or from the Metropolitan Police have called to state they were "investigating a case of fraud".

They then persuade victims, often the elderly or vulnerable residents, to tell them bank details such as PIN numbers.

Victims have been conned into withdrawing large sums of money from their bank, which are then put in a bag for "collection".

But police say they will never ask for bank details, or for money to be taken out of a bank account and put in a plastic bag.

Earlier this month, an elderly man from Hastings were contacted by a fake Sergeant Davies from Hammersmith police who asked about NatWest bank.

Then last week a couple from Goring were defrauded out of £8,000 from a man pretending to be from Santander bank, claiming he would protect their money from fraud by a bank employee.

PC Bernadette Lawrie said no bank or organisation will ever ask for these details over the phone. Advice for beating the con men is available on the Sussex Police website.