Conmen target grandmother, 83

A 83-year-old woman, whose six-year-old great-grandson died after falling from a stairlift at her Telford home, has now been preyed on by burglars.

Two conmen tricked the frail pensioner out of £200 pension money.

Two men posing as plumbers escaped with the cash after conning their way into Eileen Meeson's house in Hayward Place, Oakengates, at 2.25pm yesterday.

Widow Mrs Meeson had only been to the bank that morning to draw out her pension.

She is still grieving after her great-grandson Oliver Mapp, of Bolton-Le-Sands, Lancashire, died from head injuries after falling off a stairlift at her home in January, 2007.

A tearful Mrs Meeson said: "I don't think you ever get over something like my great-grandson's death."

She said she had been in her front garden when a man approached and said he was working on a neighbour's boiler, a pipe had burst and he needed her to run her taps.

The man followed her inside and then another man appeared in the hall but disappeared while the supposed plumber kept her occupied.

She discovered her bedroom had been searched but only realised money was missing later in the day when her grand-daughter came round and she checked her handbag for change.

Mrs Meeson, who has two daughters, three grandchildren and three great-grandchilden, said: "I am a trusting person and always willing to help my neighbours. At least one of the men looked very respectable and was wearing a suit. It has really upset me"

Telford police spokeswoman Denise Wakefield said they were appealing for information .

The burglars were well-built, white men in their 30s.