The elderly woman let the caller into her home in South Holmes Road, Horsham, West Sussex, after she claimed she was a nurse checking on her welfare.

The woman left the front door open while she spoke to the pensioner at about 1600 BST on Monday.

This allowed a man to enter the flat and search through the pensioner's belongings.

Tanned face

Sussex Police said the offenders had then left but it was not yet clear if anything had been stolen.

The woman is described as in her late teens, between 5ft 1in and 5ft 3in tall, with a tanned face and long brown hair tied back in a ponytail.

She wore dark clothing and may also have had a white baseball cap.

The male is in his early twenties, about 5ft 6in tall and may have had a moustache.

Anyone with information or who may have seen a couple matching that description is urged to contact Horsham Police.