October 17 2013.

Police in Seaford are reminding the public not to let strangers into their properties after a man claiming to be doing gardening work asked a resident in Grand Avenue if he could use her toilet.

Sergeant Stuart Mullins said: "This happened at about 4.15pm on Tuesday 15 October. We do not know if the man was a genuine gardener or not and no offences took place, however I want to warn people to not let anyone into their house under these sort of circumstances.

"A request to use a toilet or have a drink of water is one of the oldest excuses that thieves use to con their way into properties, to search for cash and valuables."

The man was described as white, aged in his 40s, 5' 9", with brown hair. He was wearing a green sweatshirt with some sort of logo on it.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police on 101 quoting serial 1227 of 15/10 or email contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk