A MAN claiming to be a water board official ransacked an elderly woman's bedroom yesterday.

The man knocked on the door of her home in Deneside, Lanchester, at about 3pm and asked to check her water, to see "if it was blue".

As the 81-year-old turned to go into her sitting room, the man went upstairs. A short while later she heard the front door shut.

Later in the evening, her carer found drawers and cupboards in the bedroom had been searched, although police do not think anything was stolen.

The man is described as in his mid-thirties, of medium build, with mid-length, dark brown hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt with a dark blue tracksuit top and white trainers.

It is believed he had visited other homes in the area, offering to cut trees.

Anyone with information is asked to call Consett police, on (01207) 504204, or Crime-stoppers, on 0800 555 111.