TWO men took a frail pensioner to a cashpoint and demanded money - then went back to his Newport home, frisked him and stole £200.

Police say the men called at the 87-year-old man's home, in Pardoe Thomas Close, Pill, on Tuesday to try to persuade him to buy a three-piece suite.

They took him to a cash point to withdraw money but as the pensioner was handing over the cash, one of his relatives turned up.

However, the next day, the same people came back, searched the pensioner and stole £200 cash, his cash card and paying-in book. The pensioner was shaken but unhurt.

PC Andy Griffiths, of Pill police, said: "On Tuesday, between 9am and 10am, the men turned up with a three-piece suite and the pensioner tried to say he didn't want it.

"They went into the house, took out his current suite and put the shrink-wrapped one in.

"They said they wanted £1,200 and took him to a cash point, but he was only able to withdraw £300.

"They took him back to his address and as he was handing over the money when one of his relatives arrived and stopped him. "Then, on Wednesday morning, the same people turned up and burst into his house. They went into his bedroom and frisked him and got his wallet."

The men are both described as being white, in their 20s, wearing black suits, white shirts and black ties.

They also wore dirty shoes and were travelling in a grey Ford Transit van. Pc Griffiths said that the suite had been shrink- wrapped to make it look new when it was really old.

The incident is being treated as burglary. PC Griffiths, Pill"s crime and disorder reduction officer, issued a warning to people living in the area not to deal with anyone calling at their door who does not have appropriate identification.

He said: "If they've got any suspicions, they should just call 999."" Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det-Con Mike Thomas on 01633 245260.