BOGUS council officials are targeting pensioners in Ebbw Vale and Abertillery.

In one incident at the weekend, two conmen stole around £1,000 from two terrified elderly women living in Park Place, Waun Lwyd, Ebbw Vale.

The men called at the home of a partially sighted 84-year-old and a 79-year-old woman at around 1pm last Saturday afternoon, claiming to be council officials.

They said there was a sewage leak at the back of their house and were concerned it could cause flooding.

After they had gained entry to the house, the men searched various locations for cash while the women were in the kitchen.

The fake officials are also thought to be behind a number of bogus calls on homes at around noon in Gordon Avenue, Swffryd.

At a house where two women, aged 79 and 81, are living, they asked for change for a meter, but were refused and left empty-handed.

They then went to another house a few doors down, but were challenged by the elderly occupant and fled.

Police Constable Mike Smith, crime and disorder reduction officer at Ebbw Vale police station, said the two pensioners in Park Place were very distressed and frightened by the incident.

He said: "They were very upset. It was some time before any of our officers could speak to them because they were very shaken.

"In fact, we had to get family members to speak to them first to calm them down before officers could speak to them."

Detective Sergeant Simon Offers, of Abertillery CID, said: "We are treating them as the same suspects because the descriptions of clothing from witnesses are very similar.

"This kind of crime is disgusting because these are vulnerable and elderly people.

"They are particularly cowardly incidents and we are treating them most seriously."

The men have been described as white and in their 20s. They did not have local accents.

One is described as being around 5ft 7in tall and was wearing a grey-coloured top, while the other was roughly the same height, with fair hair and was wearing black clothing.

Anyone with information should contact DC Shaun Hucker at Ebbw Vale CID on 01495 350999 or DC Simon Offers at Abertillery CID on 01495 212021.