AN 83-year-old woman woke to find two people in her sheltered flat and later discovered they had stolen her handbag and £180 cash.

The woman, who lives in privately owned sheltered accommodation on Harcourt Street, Burnley, had been asleep in an armchair at 3.30pm on Friday when she woke to find a man standing next to her.

He chatted to her and asked her to look out of the window while her black, fake crocodile handbag was stolen from the living room.

Det Sgt Steve Mounsey said: "Two people, both male, were seen outside the premises. The entry is controlled by a telephone with a video link and they were buzzed in by another occupier.

"The warden is aware of what happened and the residents have been told not to let people in who they don't know."

One of the two offenders is described as white, 5ft 10ins, aged 15 to 20, with dark brown collar-length hair and wearing a navy blue tracksuit top and bottoms with a white stripes on the sleeves and a local accent.

Anyone who saw anything is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 425001.