CALDICOT police say they are still urgently trying to trace a woman who tricked her way into a house and examined a baby while posing as a health official.

The alarming incident happened in Oakley Way last Monday. Posing as a health visitor from the local health centre, the woman entered the house, picked up the 11-week-old child and examined its eyes and ears before sitting down and talking to the infant's teenage single mother for a full 20 minutes.

The mother, who believed the woman was a colleague of her weekly health visitor, did not discover she was an imposter until the following day when she called her health centre.

She wished not to be identified but told the Argus she was "shocked such a thing could happen".

Police have searched for the woman but have made little progress according to the officer in charge of the investigation DC Martin Harris. DC Harris said: "We haven't really progressed but are covering every angle and are concerned with making sure the victim is fine.

"We are releasing an e-fit of the imposter based on a description by the victim and I'd hope it would jog someone's memory.

"Nobody has come forward with information since the incident was reported. "At this time we believe it to be an isolated incident." Caldicot mother-of-two Susan Rees said she would be "devastated" if the same thing happened to her.

Mrs Rees, of Woodland View, said: "We're a close-knit community here and everyone will be frightened by this.

"There's playgrounds and a school in the area so children can be out and about most of the day."

Dewstow ward county councillor Bill Edwards said: "We have done a lot of good work in the community and something like this can really undermine all that. It's a serious and unfortunate incident."

A spokesman for Caldicot police described the woman as approximately 30 years old, wearing navy trousers, a navy top and jacket and had long brown hair.

Anyone with information should contact police on 01633 838111.