A BOGUS doctor is believed to have stolen a purse from a patient at Southend Hospital.

She approached the bed-side of a patient purporting to be a doctor, She got a stethoscope out of a bag and acted strangely before leaving.

Thinking it was suspicious, the patient, who is an 80-year-old cancer sufferer, checked her bag and found her purse had been stolen. It happened at about 4pm on Monday.

The woman was in her thirties and spoke with a local accent. She had shoulder-length black bushy straight hair and was dressed all in black. The purse contained about £40.

Anyone with information is should call PC Ricky Rodd at Leigh police station on 101.