POLICE are trying to trace a woman who arrived at a cashpoint moments after a pensioner walked off without taking her cash.

The 65-year-old pensioner used the cashpoint at Tesco in Westwood, Scarborough, on December 22 to withdraw some money but absent mindedly walked off with the notes still in the machine.

When she returned the money was not there and she reported it to police, who began checking CCTV footage.

That showed another woman approaching the cash point shortly after the  money was left.

PC Gemma Tate said:“This was a nightmare scenario for the woman who lost the money and caused her a great deal of distress. The fact that it happened just before Christmas made it all the more upsetting.

“We are doing everything we can to help and we are hopeful that the lady in the CCTV images might be able to assist the investigation.”

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Gemma Tate. Or email gemma.tate@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk