A conman robbed a 91-year-old woman of £200 she had saved through the year to buy Christmas presents for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nora Newnham was in tears when she discovered her empty handbag thrown on to her bedroom floor.

Yesterday, her smiles were back when The Argus Appeal gave Nora £200 and a handsome Christmas hamper.

Nora said she was over the moon: "Bless your hearts and thank you to everyone at The Argus and everyone who donates to the appeal."

Nora, a widow and still running her own home in Newhaven, has two children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three more great-grandchildren on the way.

She has so many to buy for at Christmas that she starts saving in January.

"I put a pound or two aside every week and if I win £10 at bingo then that goes into the pot as well."

She was making her lunch on Tuesday this week when the trickster called, saying he was working nearby for the water board and needed to run her taps to clear them of dirt.

He went from room to room and left minutes later. He callously smiled and said "goodbye" as he fled with her savings.

Nora, born and bred in Newhaven, discovered the theft several hours later: "He took everything I had.

"I was so upset I think I would have done something to him. I was in tears and couldn't sleep that night. I kept tossing and turning."

Inspector Herbie Kinvig, of Newhaven police, said: "This was a despicable crime on a vulnerable victim.

"She was deprived of all of her Christmas savings.

"Myself and all of my colleagues are sickened by such crimes and I would urge anyone who knows this man to call us on 0845 6070 999."

The offender is white, about 25, 5ft 2in with swept back dark brown hair. He wore a navy three-quarter length jacket zipped up and navy trousers.

Police urged the elderly not to let strangers in and to check callers' credentials.

Nora warned everyone to be on their guard: "I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else," she said.