Police have been told about a pair of suspected scammers who have been telling a sob story in order to con people out of their cash.

It follows an incident in Osborne Road in the Willesborough area of Ashford, where a man driving a silver Ford Mondeo pulled up to people and claimed he needed £2 or £3 to pay for hospital parking for his pregnant wife sat in the passenger seat.

On Facebook, a witness said: “He said his bank card had been declined and he wanted money as his partner was pregnant and needed to get to hospital.

“I said I didn’t have anything, and they drove off. It could be completely innocent and I hope his partner is ok. Just seemed odd to me to be asking for money to get to the hospital when it is only local and they were in a car.”

The online post sparked other similar reports of people being asked for cash, including in car parks outside ASDA and Halfords, and near the Esso garage in Willesborough.

One man said: “This guy pulled up alongside me last Sunday while I was waiting for Halfords to open and asked for £3 as he couldn't afford the parking at the hospital.

"His wife was in the car with him and she was heavily pregnant and looked distressed, so I gave him the money.”

Meanwhile in another post, a woman reportedly approached to ask to swap a dubious £20 for small change in order to pay for parking, but rushed off when caught out and told she had to pay before parking.

Police spokesman Steve Knight there have been two reports from Osborne Road on Saturday, the first at 11am and the second at 1.20pm.

He said: “Both incidents happened in Osborne Road and involved a man in a car asking members of the public for money. No money was exchanged and no offences were reported.

“Details of both incidents have been recorded and local officers have been made aware.”