A family are warning the public to be vigilant about a coronavirus scam after a man turned up at their front door and claimed he was from a 'corona clinic'.

A woman living in Richmond Drive, Watford, received a knock at her door on Monday afternoon.

When she answered the door, a man, who was dressed in normal clothing and wearing a regular blue jacket, was standing there and he reportedly put his foot in the door straight away.

The family, who want to remain anonymous, claim he said 'Hello, clinic? Corona clinic?' and tried to walk into the house.

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The woman's husband soon came to the door and looked inside a black bag that he was holding.

Expecting to find testing kits, instead he spotted sandwiches, and the couple's suspicions grew.

The couple said 'no' to him and were able to push him away from the door and shut it, and quickly call the police.

Officers attended the address within half-an-hour but were unable to track down the suspicious man.

The homeowner told the Observer she immediately had her guard up when she answered the door because she had received a text message from a friend a day earlier warning her about this kind of incident.

She said: "Due to that text I had seen warning me of these scams, I was able to quickly react and we shut the door.

"It has made me really angry that people can try and take advantage of what is already such a difficult time for the country.

"We should be coming together and helping each other."

The text message she had read said 'please be aware that people are knocking on doors pretending they are testing for the virus in the area'.

The text later continued 'inform your friends and family, especially the over 70s'.

Police say the suspect has been described as a white man, with olive skin, and black receding hair.

He also had a white/grey beard.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Police were called at 4.27pm on Monday March 16 to reports of a suspicious incident in Watford.

"It was reported that a male was knocking on doors in the Richmond Drive area and claiming to be offering a ‘corona clinic’.

"The man is described as white, olive skinned, around 45 years old and with receding black hair.

"Any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident should call the non-emergency number 101 quoting ISR 487 of 16 March."