CUNNING thieves stole £70 from a pensioner after conning him during an elaborate bank scam.

James Daniels, from Wellington Street, in Howley, was ill in January and stayed at home for a month.

But when the 75-year-old went into the Halifax branch, on Buttermarket Street, to take out £120 around 10.30am last Monday, he was approached by an eastern European couple.

Mr Daniels noticed the man and a woman standing either side of him at the cash machine, and went over to a table to sort out his money.

He told the Guardian: "I saw the woman standing at the side of me again.

"I thought this is awfully rude', so I put the money in my wallet.

"The next thing there was a noise on the floor because she dropped some coins.

"She picked them up, smiling at me, and handed them to me.

"I was mithered, even though I knew they weren't mine, and while I was looking at the coins she dabbed at my wallet with her finger.

"She then pointed to her hand that the money was hers, so I gave her the coins. I took my wallet out outside and £70 had gone."

Mr Daniels hoped the bank would have CCTV footage of the incident, but was told that their CCTV cameras do not cover the area by the table as it is not a banking area'.

He said: "I never use the cash machines outside and I am always careful.

"If they are going from bank to bank I think people need to be aware. I won't get the money back but at least we can do something to try to stop them."

Halifax said it could not comment on its CCTV coverage.

The woman was white, around 5ft 6ins with dark hair. She was dowdily dressed.

The man was white, 5ft 8ins tall, thick set, with dark hair.

If you have any information about these thieves call Warrington Police on 0845 458 0000.