POLICE are hunting a callous thief who tricked a pensioner into giving him £30 before stealing his car.

The 82-year-old man returned to his Ford Fiesta, in the car park at Darlington Memorial Hospital, on Wednesday evening, to find a man standing next to his car.

The stranger said the man's car had a flat tyre and he would fix it for £48.

The pensioner gave him £30 and the car keys and the man drove off but did not return. The red car has the registration N596 AEF.

A police spokesman said: "It is hard to believe the gall of this man. It is terrible when elderly people are taken advantage of because they can often be easily tricked.

"We want to hear from anyone who knows this man, has seen the car, or who saw someone hanging about the hospital car park.

"If anyone has been approached by this man but has not fallen for his scam we would also ask them to get in touch."

The man, who is said to speak with a local accent, was estimated to be about 40 years old, 6ft, with short, greying hair.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at about 7.45pm, is asked to telephone Darlington police on (01325) 467681.