MORE than £1,000 has been taken from an 85-year-old as part of a bank scam in the New Forest.

On Tuesday (March 12) a woman from Ringwood became victim to a telephone scam, in which the caller claimed to be from the bank and persuaded the recipient to reveal her PIN number over the phone.

The victim then handed her bank card to the caller, and £1,190 was taken.

The man who collected the woman's bank card has been described as black, 5 foot 11 inches tall, of medium build, and with curly hair wearing a hi-vis jacket.

A similar incident also happened to a 90-year-old in New Milton who lost £500, and both incidents are being treated as linked.

Hampshire Constabulary has reminded the public that legitimate bank staff would never ask for PIN numbers to be disclosed over the phone nor send a courier to collect an old bank card, and if someone gets a call like this, they should hang up and report the incident via 101.

Alternatively Action Fraud can be called on 0300 123 2040.