Police have released a CCTV picture of a man wanted for questioning after a 93-year-old woman was left shaken when a fraudster posing as a water maintenance worker barged into her home and stole her purse.

The pensioner, who lives in a sheltered housing development in West Hampstead, was at home on October 10 when she received a knock at her door from a man claiming to be there to “check her water”.

Having already been the unfortunate victim of a bogus caller before, she tried to close the door.

The man, who police say is white, six ft tall, well-built, with dark hair and an English accent, then barged into her home and went to her kitchen on the pretence of checking the radiators.

The elderly woman continued to question him as he rummaged through her kitchen and cupboards.

After telling him she was going to call the police, he quickly left.

She later discovered her purse containing a small amount of money was missing.

DC Paul Durrant, of Camden CID, said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who may help us identify this man or remembers seeing anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time of this burglary, at 12.40pm.”

If you can help police identify the man pictured, call Camden CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.