The couple, in their 80s, invited him into their home and he later stole an unattended wallet containing cash and credit cards.

The man is described as 5ft 8in, of stocky build with short fair hair and a gaunt appearance. He has an upper left front tooth missing.

He was wearing a pale beige or cream long-sleeved shirt and dark coloured dress trousers and spoke with a local accent.

The occupants were left shaken by their ordeal.

It is believed the man may have visited a number of other houses in the area.

Around midday on Saturday, an elderly woman, who lives alone in River Crescent, was visited by two men who offered to cut her hedge.

Although suspicious of them, she eventually agreed the work and a price.

The men returned the following day and began to cut the hedge, but one tried a ruse that would have allowed him to get inside the house. The woman saw through this and, shortly after, the men asked if they could be paid and said they would return the next day to finish the hedge.

The woman gave them their money and the pair left.

Yesterday, at about midday, the younger of the two men returned and continued to cut the hedge. He said the older man would be along later.

The younger man finished cutting the hedge and asked the elderly woman to come into the garden to inspect the work, which she did.

Shortly after this the man left, saying he had to re-join his companion.

After he left, the woman discovered a three-figure sum of money, which she had just drawn from the bank, had disappeared.

The older of the men is described as 42 to 48 years, 5 ft 9 in tall, of medium build, unshaven and with possibly a Perth or central Scotland accent.

The younger man was in his 30s, clean shaven and described as having a ‘bit of a belly’. He was wearing a white T-shirt.

The men had a white Ford Transit-type van. Anyone visited by these men is asked to note the registration number of their vehicle and contact the police.

Bogus workmen target the elderly.

Police warn anyone with elderly relatives, especially if they live alone, to ask them to ensure they use only reputable workmen and that they ensure their doors are kept locked so no-one can sneak in while they are distracted.

This follows the launch of a major police operation to crackdown on bogus callers after officers became concerned over the number of conmen operating in Dundee over the last few weeks.

The force have been working with the Department for Work and Pensions Counter Fraud Investigation Service to counter the problem by stopping suspect work vehicles and checking the identities of people within.

The joint operation has uncovered a number of benefit cheats.

Anyone with information regarding these latest incidents, or who suspect bogus workmen are operating in their area, should contact police on 01382 223200 or speak to any police officer.