POLICE are investigating claims of a con man operating from a Swindon hotel.

The man was a guest at a town centre hotel at the end of March and beginning of April.

While he was there, it is claimed that he conned Romford business analyst Simon Brown out of £240 for tickets to Glastonbury Music Festival, which did not exist.

The alleged con man is also accused of leaving the hotel without paying his bill.

Mr Brown, 29, said: "I'm a concert-goer and I'm always buying tickets at hundreds of pounds.

"After a search on the internet I saw an advertisement on a website for tickets to Glastonbury, which would normally be £250 each. When I saw them available for £120 I spoke to the advertiser, who said he was a musician, and bought two tickets by paying direct into his bank account. He seemed genuine."

When Mr Brown received no tickets from the man he phoned the telephone number shown on the website and it turned out to be a hotel in Swindon.

"The landlady said the man in question was a con man who had left with unpaid bills," Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown has since contacted the man via e-mail.

But, apart from telling him not to worry and saying that he had been hindered due to a spell in hospital in Swindon, the "musician" has yet to provide the tickets.

Rob Taylour, group leader in public protection for Swindon Council, said: "The internet is a very powerful tool for businesses to sell their goods and it is important consumers exercise discretion and are careful when buying.

"The Office of Fair Trading is in the process of launching a hallmark for internet sites to give consumers confidence and protect them from scams."

Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar confirmed that the man was being investigated, both for the alleged hotel offence and the alleged tickets scam.

She said PC Rob Sweeney and PC Sid Vincent were in charge of the inquiries and urged anyone who could help to call either the force on Swindon 528111 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on (0800) 555111.