A BOGUS astrologer tried to trick an 85-year-old pensioner by telling her she had won £8,000 and asked her to send a registration fee in order to collect her winnings.

The pensioner, who lives at Mill Close in South Cerney, received a telephone call from the "astrologer" who told her she predicted the woman would win £8,000 in the near future.

Then on Friday the woman received another call from a man who told her she had won the money but she would have to send a fee of £29.99 in order to claim her prize.

The woman told her daughter, who contacted the police.

Crime reduction officer for the Cotswold and Stroud division, Mark Godsland, said: "Criminals will try any scam they can think of in order to trick people out of their money.

"We would urge everyone to be extra vigilant especially at this time of year.

"Householders should treat with scepticism any calls offering to shower them with riches.

"Any unexpected calls which ask for payment in return for unseen goods or bank details to transfer money are highly unlikely to be genuine." He stressed that police are urging anyone who receives a suspect call to take down as much information as possible before passing it on to their local neighbourhood watch co-ordinator and to the police.

Police spokesman, Steve Partridge, said: "The family were very upset by the incident and angry that someone could be so cruel as to try and trick their elderly relative out of her money."