TWO thieves tricked their way into a pensioner's house and stole her purse.

They told the 61-year-old woman, from Silkstone Close, Eccleston, that they had come to collect a car part left in the back garden by the house's previous occupier.

The woman said she didn't think anything had been left but invited them in.

When they had left she discovered her purse, containing £100 cash, was misssing.

The first man, who spoke with a local accent, was clean shaven and smartly dressed, in his late 20s, and about 5ft 8ins with a medium build and short dark hair

The other man was of a similar age and height but slightly plumper. He was also smartly dressed and had a fair complexion and short fair hair.

If you have any information about this theft, you can contact DC Neil Henry at St Helens CID on 0151 777 6876 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.