A KIND-HEARTED 71-year-old man is warning residents across Test Valley to beware of a 'jockey' scam after seemingly being duped out of £30.

The elderly man was approached by a man in his 30s in his garden at around 4pm on Monday.

The stranger said he was a jockey called Steve Ford and had lost his wallet so couldn't buy diesel for his car, which was parked in the lane outside the elderly man's property, and he needed to get to Newmarket urgently.

The pensioner, who did not want to be named, said: "He asked where he could park his car.

"I asked how I could help him.

"He asked if I could lend him £20.

"I felt sorry for him so gave him £30 and told him where the nearest filling station was.

"He expressed his gratitude, said he would return to pay me back next week and drove off in his shiny black mid-range saloon car (possibly Renault or Peugeot).

"He had the build and height of a jockey with a full head of shortish brown or black hair.

"After he left, I felt that I may have been rather gullible in wishing to help an unfortunate person.

"I telephoned the Professional Jockey's association.

"They had never heard of Steve Ford - in fact, Steve Ford is a National Hunt horse."

Police have been informed and are spreading the message to residents across Test Valley.