A PENSIONER'S home was burgled and ransacked - days after his wife had died.

And police have urged anyone with information that might help catch the person responsible to come forward.

Detectives were so disgusted by the burglary, in Padiham Road, Burnley, that they even appealed to the "local criminal fraternity" to shop one of their own over the crime.

It is not known if the burglar was aware the 76-year-old man had become a widower last week.

He was not at home on New Year's Eve when the raid happened.

A kitchen window was forced and all the rooms of the house were ransacked.

Five bottles of whiskey, a silver Toshiba DVD combination player and a yellow Ighten Mount bowling jacket, worth a total value of £320, were stolen.

Insp Damien Darcy, from Burnley police, said: "This sort of crime is always unwelcome, but particularly in this instance.

"This gentleman lost his wife, which is tragic enough, but then to come home and find somebody has broken in and stolen property only days later has made his suffering even worse. There are no words to say how upsetting it it for him.

"We are urging people with any information to come forward and the thieves themselves who we hope will have a pang of conscience about what they have caused by their actions."

The burglary took place between 9.30pm on Sunday and 1.20am on Monday.

Anyone with information should contact Sgt Steve Hallgate at Burnley Police on 01282 472121.