A grandmother has been robbed at a cash machine in a Fife village.
The 79-year-old had her bank card stolen by a man who later withdrew £300 from her account.
Frances Headley was approached as she took cash from an ATM at the Clydesdale Bank in Newport.
The “frightening” incident happened just after 11am on Friday.
Mrs Headley said: “I was totally unaware of him until he came up behind me and shoved envelopes into my face.
“He was gibbering away in a strange foreign language. It was quite frightening.
“I always like to be helpful, particularly to foreign people, but I made a mistake here. I was very distracted. I told him to go into the bank because I didn’t understand what he was saying. He disappeared very smartly, then I realised my card had been taken.”
Mrs Headley, who suffers from arthritis, was helped into the bank by a passer-by, where she reported the robbery.
However, the thief had already accessed her account at a nearby cash machine.
She added: “I went straight into the bank and had the card stopped. Apparently he went to another bank up the road and withdrew the money.
“He was right behind me so he’ll have seen what my fingers were doing.
“The bank staff were absolutely wonderful, as was a lady who helped me in to the bank. I was very shaken. You’d never think that this would happen in Newport.”
Police were alerted at 11.20am and took a statement shortly afterwards.
A spokeswoman for Fife Constabulary said: “There was no injury to the lady. It’s been more a distraction, where they’ve stolen a card from the cashline that she’s using.
“We are making inquiries to try to trace the persons responsible.”
Mrs Headley, who worked as a nurse for 40 years, was recovering from her ordeal at home yesterday evening.
She added: “This is a warning to everybody, not only to cover up your hands, but to watch who is behind you.
“I’m just lucky I wasn’t mugged by this character. It could have been worse.
“He obviously thought I was a daft old bat who couldn’t run after him. He’s picked his victim very carefully.”
Mrs Headley’s daughter, Caroline Lindsay, said: “The money isn’t important I’m just relieved my mother wasn’t hurt.
“The main thing is to make sure elderly folk in Newport and other small communities are made aware of the dangers that exist at this time of year.”
pswindon@thecourier.co.uk