A SENIOR detective today told of his disgust after a 77-year-old woman was conned out of savings by a team of tricksters.

The incident happened in Stanbury Drive, Burnley, at 2.50pm on Friday, when a man and a woman offered to carry out property repair work at the pensioner's house.

The woman allowed the pair into her house before they conned her out of £625 in cash.

DS Derek Jones said: "After all my years as a detective I still can't get used to people carrying out this sort of despicable crime against elderly people.

"The offenders didn't carry out any work at the house. They wanted payment upfront.

"The old lady got them some money which was then snatched from her hand when she started to count it out.

"They ran off with £625 in cash.

"We believe they may have used a van, something similar to a Ford Escort to leave the scene."

He added: "A team of senior detectives is working on the case.

"They are determined to catch the people responsible for this crime.

"The pair didn't show any identification but they have also been in the vicinity offering to do various home repairs at other properties.

"We would like to hear from anybody who may have been approached by these people or seen them in the area.

"I would urge people, specifically the elderly, to turn anybody away who turns up without prior arrangement to carry out work in the home. I would also urge elderly people who are thinking of having any work done, to make sure that a friend or a relative is there."

The male is described as white, early 40s, 5ft 8ins, thin, with sharp facial features, longish brown greasy hair, and spoke with an Irish accent.

The woman is described as having light skin but appeared to have mixed race features, possibly Asian or Italian, early 20s, 5ft 3-4in, straight tied back hair, with a large build, and spoke noticably slow.

Anybody with information about the incident should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.