AN online community group has rallied round to support a 93-year-old who was burgled by con artists.

Grandmother-of-three Gladys Riley was targeted by a couple with a young boy who stole cash after tricking their way into her Haslingden home last Tuesday.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Members of the Love Haslingden Facebook page raised almost £1,000 in three days to help the pensioner.

The thieves took £70, a handbag, purse and a bus pass belonging to Mrs Riley in an incident described by her son Edward as cowardly.

Selina Hope, who is from Haslingden but does not know Mrs Riley, said she initially only intended to raise enough money to buy her a bunch of flowers. But the £100 target on the GoFundMe website was soon surpassed and last night the total donated stood at £970.

Ms Hope said: “I just posted on the group in the hope that we could get together a tenner or something to buy a bunch of flowers. I thought it would be nice for the community to show our support for Gladys but I cannot believe how it has taken off.

“I do not know her at all but I hope we will be able to hand over a decent amount to her family. They can use it how they choose or donate it to charity.”

Ms Hope, 34, said other offers had flooded in from local businesses including Dearden Tea Rooms, which has offered a free meal for Mrs Riley and a friend, and fashion store Ruby & Daisy, which has offered the retired postmistress a new purse.

Police are hunting a couple in their 20s or 30s in connection with the burglary.

Ms Hope said that this was not the first time the Facebook group had pulled together to help out residents. She said: “It is a place where people can talk about the area and help each other out.

“Whatever help we can offer Gladys and her son, we will.”