A silver-tongued conman has duped hundreds of pounds out of people by posing as a member of rock 'n' roll band, the Moody Blues.

Victims have been spun tales by David Williams who told them - in the words of the band he claimed to star in - "I'm just a singer in a rock 'n' roll band."

Detectives hunting the smooth-talking Liverpudlian today urged people to make sure they are not taken in by his plausible tales.

The latest victim - who handed over £575 - was cornered in the Commodore pub, Basildon. They believe Williams may have conned thousands of pounds out of people up and down the country by posing as the group's ageing bass guitarist John Lodge.

PC Alan Barley of Basildon police said: "He just sucks them straight in with false tales of his life on the road.

"He'll target a certain pub for a few days, get to know the clientele and then, once he has them hanging on his every word, ask them to cash a cheque for him.

"Of course they don't mind - he's a famous pop star with millions in the bank. It is only after he is long gone that the victims realise what has happened." Williams is in his 50s and 5ft 6ins tall. He has grey collar-length hair and dresses smartly in suits.

He has a scar on the left side of his neck and wears half-lens reading glasses.

Mike Keys, agent for the Moody Blues, said people should be aware that John Lodge is taking a break abroad before the start of a UK tour by the band.

He said: "This has happened before. We were first contacted around 12 years ago and then four or five years ago. We don't know if it is the same person." If you can help, call Basildon police on 01268 532212.

Moody Blues fact file

The Moody Blues were formed in 1964 by original members Ray Thomas and Graeme Edge.

John Lodge, the bass guitarist, and Justin Hayward joined two years later in 1966.

Their hits have included Nights in White Satin which reached number 19 in the UK single charts, and Go Now, which got to number one.

Justin Hayward then went on to have a solo number one, Forever Autumn.The band's new UK tour kicks off on April 15.

It will finish with three dates at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on April 29, 30 and May 1.

(Left) Star - John Lodge

(Right) Fraud - David Williams

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.