Farmers across Powys are being urged to be on their guard against a bogus salesman offering cheap chainsaws.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has appealed to farmers to report these incidents to police.

Gwynedd Watkin, for the FUW, said: “Farmers have complained to the union that a man in a black Ford car speaking with a foreign accent has been visiting farms trying to sell chainsaws.

“He claims to be giving farmers a good deal on top-of-the-range chainsaws but after checking them out the purchasers have found they are not the genuine article.

“We have reported the matter to the police who are carrying out investigations. It appears that this man tells the same story to farmers when he calls.

“We are now urging all farmers across the region to be on their guard and hope the police will be able to stop this man in his tracks.”

He added: “Some of the farmers that have been approached by this man have been conned out of hundreds of pounds and we don’t want this happening to anyone else.”

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said the force had been informed about the matter. He said: “We have received reports that a man has been going around farms across the force area offering them cheap chainsaws. We are urging anyone with information to get in touch.”

Call police on 101.