POLICE have issued a warning to motorists after a pensioner was stopped by a man on the roadside begging for money to buy diesel.

The woman was driving in the Richmond area when she was stopped by a man wearing a workman's yellow fluorescent top. He was standing near a white Transit-style van with the letters CE roughly painted on the side.

After the man was told the woman had no money, he saw a bag containing money for car parking and said that would do.

After handing over the money and driving off, the woman became suspicious and drove back past the van, where she spotted a second man hiding in the foot-well.

Although the incident happened at the end of August, the woman has only just reported it to Darlington police, who said there had been similar incidents on rural roads around the town in recent weeks.

A similar incident was reported to have taken place at 2.30pm on Friday, on the road between Manfield and Cleasby, south of Darlington.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.