Two tourists were conned out of more than £1000 after being approached by a bogus police officer near the Scottish Parliament.

The couple, who were visiting Edinburgh from East Asia, were near Holyrood on Saturday afternoon when two men came towards them.

One of the men told them he was a police officer, and showed them a badge which they believed was identification.

The tourists later checked their belongings and realised that a four-figure sum of money had been taken.

The first suspect is described as East Asian, with a slim to medium build, around 5ft 7in tall and aged between 30 and 35.

He was unshaven with short black hair and was wearing a brown jacket and carrying a black backpack.

The second man was white with a medium build, 6ft tall, around 50 years old, with a deep scar on his right cheek.

He spoke with an English accent and was wearing a black beanie hat and a full-length black coat.

The incident follows similar reports of bogus policemen operating in Fife and Glasgow, however, police stressed that this case was not thought to be linked.

Inspector David Robertson said: "This is currently being treated as an isolated incident and we are conducting a number of enquiries in an effort to trace the two men responsible.

"As part of this, we're appealing for anyone who may have been in the area and saw these two men, or who recognises their descriptions, to come forward.

"Our officers will always be in possession of photographic identification and will be able to provide you with a unique identification number.

"If you are still unsure, please call us on 101 as the call handler can check their credentials for you and officers will be happy to wait until this has been done."