THE funeral of a pensioner who fell victim to a bogus caller will be held on Thursday.

Frail widower George Sharpe, 82, died of a heart attack hours after a man conned his way into his home at Faraday Terrace, Haswell, County Durham, on Wednesday, January 8.

The caller, who claimed to be a council worker, was in the house only minutes before stealing £200 from a drawer. He had previously called on Mr Sharpe the Sunday before but left empty handed.

In a similar incident a year ago, the pensioner had £2,700 stolen.

Following Mr Sharpe's death, a a murder inquiry was launched. Detectives learned that a man fitting the description of the conman had called half an hour later, at 5.30pm the same day, at the home of a 78-year-old man.

He told the pensioner, of Tudor Court, Shotton Colliery, that he was from the water board, but the householder became suspicious and sent him away.

Detective Inspector Sue Knaggs, of Peterlee CID, said that although house-to-house inquiries in Haswell and Shotton Colliery were finished, several lines of inquiry were still being pursued.

Mr Sharpe's funeral will be held at St Paul's Church, Haswell, at 1.10pm on Thursday, followed by cremation in Durham City.

The conman is described as in his 30s, 5ft 5in, well built, clean shaven, with a fair complexion and a square face. He was wearing a dark donkey jacket, flat cap and dark woollen gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0191-586 2621 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.