DETECTIVES are hunting a "scruffy-looking" conman who fleeced a deaf pensioner out of £60.

The man walked into the 81-year-old man's house after removing the pensioner's lawn mower from his garage as part of an elaborate trick.

After entering through the unlocked back door of the house in Ferryhill, he removed knives from the kitchen drawer before being confronted by the home owner in the living room.

The thief, in his late 20s or early 30s, told the pensioner he had been sharpening the man's knives for him on the blades of the lawn mower and that he wanted paying for the work he had done.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "Although the 81-year-old is deaf, the thief managed to make the substance of his story understood and he persuaded his victim to part with the money."

Detectives believe the man had tried a similar scam two doors away, but found his knock on the door answered by a woman younger than he expected.

After trying the same story, the woman became suspicious and the thief left.

He was described as 5ft 9in, of thin build, with short, dark hair and brown eyes. He had several days' growth and greying sideburns.

Said to be "scruffy-looking", he wore a grubby white T-shirt and blue jeans and he was possibly driving a blue Ford Escort.

Anyone who might have seen the man or the car in the area around 1pm on Wednesday should contact police in Ferryhill on (01740) 651204.