POLICE are hunting a man who posed as a detective to gain entry into an elderly woman's home in Eastleigh.

The bogus caller entered the 76-year-old's home in Chestnut Avenue after claiming to be an officer with Hampshire Constabulary's CID.

He produced identification as he stood at the door but would not allow the resident to inspect it and then entered the household uninvited.

The elderly woman immediately became suspicious and demanded that he left the house, which he did.

The man is described as white, 6ft of a thin build with short, dark hair. He was wearing an open-necked white shirt and a dark jacket.

Police have said that when he left the house a white van parked nearby moved away in the same direction as the man.

The vehicle had a double ladder on the roof, which had hooks on the end and was used for carrying out roof work.

The incident happened at about 4.15pm on Friday, and investigating officers are appealing to residents of Chestnut Avenue, and anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them if they saw anything suspicious.

They also want to hear from anyone who had uninvited or unexpected callers at their home, or noticed either the man or the white van, with or without ladders in the area.

Eastleigh sector Insp Kelly Whiting said: "A genuine police officer will always produce and allow you to examine their warrant card and will not walk into your house uninvited. If you are not happy with whom an unexpected caller says they are, you should call the police immediately.

"If the caller says they are a police officer, you will be put through to someone who will be able to confirm the identity and whether the person is a genuine police officer or not."

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Will Reid at Eastleigh CID on 0845 045 4545, or contact the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.