Officers hunting a conman who struck at a pensioner's home, prompting his death, spent yesterday at the scene of another of his suspected crimes.

George Sharpe, 82, died three hours after a man claiming to be carrying out draught proofing for the local council called at his home in Haswell, County Durham, last Wednesday.

The impostor, who stole £200, had already called on Mr Sharpe the previous Sunday, but was sent away empty handed by his nephew.

After distraught relatives of the frail widower made a public appeal for information, a 78-year-old man told police he had also been visited by a conman at his home at Tudor Court, in nearby Shotton Colliery, half an hour after Mr Sharpe.

The intruder, whose description matched that of the man in the first incident, told the pensioner he was from the water company, but left empty handed when he became suspicious.

Throughout yesterday, police focused their inquiries on Shotton Colliery, where a mobile police station was set up.

Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, who is leading the investigation, said: "From 9am, all the team were up in Shotton knocking on doors to see what information they could get about the incident in the Shotton area.

"I'm hopeful that we will get some responses from there." The conman is said to be in his 30s, 5ft 5ins, well built, clean shaven, of fair complexion and with a square face.

He was wearing a dark donkey jacket, tweed flat cap and dark woollen gloves.

Anyone with information should contact the police on 0191-586 2621 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. .