A BOGUS water engineer escaped empty-handed after conning his way into a West Mersea home.

The man knocked on the door of a home in Windsor Road, claiming to be from Anglian Water. He told the occupant that he was there to check the water pressure.

The conman was accompanied through the house to the kitchen, where he turned on a tap and announced the pressure was fine. He was then escorted out.

On Saturday - two days after the incident - the occupant called Anglian Water, who said that they had not sent an engineer out that day.

Police are warning residents always to ask for identification when allowing people into the house, and if in doubt not to let them in.