POLICE are hunting a conman who duped traders into believing he was a former West Ham player who is currently behind bars.

The man made off with employees' cash after claiming he could get them signed football shirts and cheap tickets.

He pretended to be 1980s' player Mark Ward, who was imprisoned after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply in 2005.

Businesses across Gravesend have fallen victim.

He told staff at Manor Estates, High Street, he wanted to buy a property abroad for his daughter.

Staff were then offered signed shirts and tickets.

The man asked them to pay an administration fee in order to get the goods and collected £15 from them.

He then said his footballer friend, ex-Manchester United player Teddy Sheringham, was also in town and offered to bring him into the shop.

After 10 minutes he had not returned and staff began to smell a rat. They put two and two together when they noticed he had orders from nearby store Bridal Wardrobe this time for Charlton shirts.

Staff contacted the store and found he reportedly pulled a similar scam and made off with £60.

The trickster booked a viewing of a six-bedroom house at John Rice Associates, in Windmill Street, under his footballer disguise.

The employee he was dealing with told him he was not interested in football and the man left.

Senior negotiator Russell Hambelton said: "He called himself Mark Ward and said he played for West Ham 20 years ago.

"At the time we did not think anything more until other businesses mentioned it. A member of staff from Manor Estates, who did not want to be named, said: "He seemed convincing.

"He said he played in the 1980s.

"Some of our members of staff were born in the 1980s."

Police and West Ham Football Club are aware of the recent reports from businesses. Town beat officer PC Graham Johnson said: "We have a CCTV image him and are conducting inquiries as to who he is."

Police advised people to check a person's identity before handing over money.