A THIEF who was found in a 73-year-old woman's house said he had rescued her cats and was returning them.

The pensioner, who lived in Redlam, had heard a noise in the back room of her house and discovered the man there.

He said that her cats had escaped and nearly been run over by the bin men.

He told her he had helped them in through the window. But the woman noticed the window had been forced open.

On leaving the property the man stole her purse with £300 cash and cards inside.

He was white, early to mid thirties, 5ft 7in tall, thin, clean shaven with a local accent. He was dirty and was wearing a dark coloured bobble hat, a green jumper and khaki jeans.

Anyone with any information about the incident at 2pm on Friday should call Blackburn CID on 353563.