POLICE have urged caution after a 22-year-old woman was robbed when she collected her benefits from an Accrington post office.

Police said the woman had been into Nuttall Street post office at 10.30am yesterday.

As she left the post office two men approached her and one pushed her against the window of a shop and stole her purse from her pocket.

Both men ran off towards Nelson Street.

Detective Sergeant Paul Broxson, of Accrington CID, said: "Unfortunately this scenario is common at this time of year as people become desperate for money.

"This is one of the areas we will be highlighting for patrols to bear in mind over the festive period.

"Post offices and the staff there can also be at risk of attack at this time of year and so people need to be aware of the potential dangers."

He said the Accrington woman, whose name has not been released, was uninjured but left shaken.

"Anybody who saw anything or recognises the descriptions of the men should contact police," he said.

One of the offenders was described as white, aged 22, 5ft 8ins tall, wearing a black Reebok baseball cap, a black zip-up sports jacket and blue tracksuit bottoms.

The other was white, 25, slim, 5ft 8ins, with short, blond hair. He wore a black baseball cap, black sports jacket with a pale grey stripe down the middle and black tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information should call 01254 353743.