A frail 87-year-old woman is the latest person to fall victim to a lottery scam which has conned hundreds of UK pensioners out of their life savings.

Canadian fraudsters telephoned the woman, from East Preston near Littlehampton, telling her she had been entered in the Canadian national lottery for free.

They suggested she was in line for a £2 million prize.

The confused pensioner was told that to claim the money she would have to pay taxes and legal fees.

In total she sent off cheques amounting to £2,000 before becoming suspicious and contacting police.

Officers are now warning people to be vigilant after several Sussex residents were tricked out of money after being told they had won a transatlantic windfall.

Hundreds of people in the UK have already fallen for the telephone fraud, with many others believed to be too embarrassed to come forward.

The Office of Fair Trading and the Canadian police are investigating the complaints.

Police in Sussex have no powers to investigate the scam because it is based in Canada but are warning residents to be on their guard.

Victims receive a phone call telling them they have been entered in the Canadian lottery. A few weeks later, they call back to tell the person they have won a huge prize.

Then they demand several thousand pounds to pay tax on the winnings.

Some people send the cash but the Canadian national lottery does not exist.

Canadian police are advising anyone who receives such a call to "wise up and hang up".