A TERRIFIED woman was seriously sexually assaulted before being locked in a garden shed by a burglar who used her cash cards to steal her money.

The 51-year-old victim was asleep in her home in Clayton-le-Moors in the early hours of yesterday when the intruder broke in.

He sexually assaulted her before forcing her into a shed at the rear of the terrace house.

He stole property, including cash cards, which were later used at cash machines at the NatWest in Queen Street and the Post Office in St Hubert Street, Great Harwood, at approximately 4.15am.

Part of the police inquiry will centre on how the man obtained the PIN numbers for the cards.

The attacker was a white male, 5ft 4ins tall, in his 20s with a local accent. He was described as being softly spoken and wearing dark clothing.

Local residents have spoken of their horror at the attack.

Coun Janet Storey, who lives nearby, said she knew the victim and had been left shocked at the "terrible assault".

Coun Storey said: "This is a very close knit community and something like this just doesn't bare thinking about.

"It has recently become a Neighbourhood Watch area.

"I live nearby and know most of the residents in this street, including this woman, and this is terrible.

"Hopefully they will catch this person as soon as possible."

A woman collecting her child from nearby All Saint's Primary School said: "It is absolutely terrible. The kids have all been walking past the police tape and asking what has happened. We just don't know what to tell them. How do you explain something like this?"

A neighbour who asked not be named said: "I came past here at 7am and there were just a few police officers here. Then there was more and more throughout the day. I thought it must have been a burglary gone wrong."

Det Chief Insp Paul Withers said: "This is an extremely serious offence which has left the victim traumatised. A major incident room has been established at Accrington police station and detectives are now working hard to catch this dangerous individual."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the police on 01254 51212 quoting reference 21EQ16/1/08 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.