A pensioner has offered a solution to anyone targeted by phone scammers - just hang up.

Charlotte Green, 88, from Brighton, took calls from men claiming to be from telephone company BT.

The unscrupulous scammers phoned Mrs Green and told her that her call charges and line rental were going down.

But the canny pensioner did not fall for their well-rehearsed blag and hung up before handing over her account information.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the call to Mrs Green was the latest in a string of scam phone calls across the east of the county.

People in Hastings were called by a woman claiming to be from BT and demanding a payment over the phone for an outstanding bill.

The caller threatened to disconnect the victim's phone if the payment was not made.

A BT spokeswoman said: “We advise customers never to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with.

“If there is any doubt at all, a BT employee will be able to give the customer their employee ID number and an 0800 number to call, where the customer can check that they are who they say they are.

“The customer can also check their identity by calling 0800 800 150.”