DETECTIVES in Darwen are investigating two burglaries at homes on the same street in which the families' cars were also stolen.

The break-ins happened in Melville Gardens, Darwen, overnight from Sunday to Monday.

In the first incident, a burglar broke through the kitchen window of a detached house while a family was asleep upstairs.

Two mobile phones and car keys were taken from a handbag. The homeowner's R-reg Ford Fiesta Zetec was later recovered in Blackburn, and is now being forensically examined by police.

In the second break-in, the burglar climbed over a gate and broke through a kitchen window. A Sony CD player and credit cards were stolen along with the keys for a Ford Mondeo, which was recovered nearby.

Anyone with information can call Darwen CID on 01254 353842 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.