AN 88-year-old woman duped by a conman in a busy Trowbridge shopping precinct said she might never set foot in the county town again.

The pensioner was tricked out of money by a con artist posing as a neighbour's brother, as she was out shopping at 1pm on Saturday.

Police and relatives of the victim have labelled the man 'cowardly and callous' after he followed the pensioner from The Shires to Castle Place precinct in a bid to extort cash.

The victim, who lives in Bradford on Avon, said she feels foolish at handing over £30 cash after the man spun her a story.

She said: "I thought he was genuine. He said he watched me go by his window every day. I naturally thought he lived down the road.

"He told me he had come without his wallet and needed money. When I handed it over I knew he was conning me.

"I feel terrible about it all. I have always put such a lot of trust in people.

"These men go for people who can't defend themselves.

"I have been thinking about whether I will have enough courage to go into Trowbridge again."

The victim's 63-year-old son said her family were disgusted at the crime and hoped witnesses would come forward with information.

"It is a sad reflection on society," he said.

"I feel relieved in a sense because people have been killed or injured for less but I feel disgusted that people can stoop to that level."

CCTV tapes from town centre cameras have been examined but officers were unable to identify the offender.

There are no cameras outside Wilkinson, where the victim handed over the money.

PC Neil Manning said the fact the victim was approached in a busy shopping centre in the middle of the day was rare and warned other pensioners to be alert.

"I would hope that it was an opportunist attack," he said.

"If he can do this kind of crime so easily he is sure to do it again.

"There are plenty of OAPs in Bradford on Avon and Trowbridge who can be conned out of money in this way."

Police have released details of the offender. He is described as thick set, in his mid 50s with a full face. He was wearing a brown leather jacket and spoke with a local accent.

The grey-haired victim was wearing a blue long length woollen jacket and carried a walking stick.