CONMEN tricked their way into a house and stole the savings of a wheelchair-bound pensioner dying from lung cancer.

Frail Elizabeth Lepetit, 72, is so ill that she did not even notice the one of the crooks searching her house after husband Charles let him in.

Detectives said the crime was "callous" and urged pensioners to be extra vigilant after the bogus callers struck.

War veteran Mr Lepetit, 80 said he was outraged that anyone could steal from a dying woman and called for the thieves to be "paraded in chains in the street".

The men conned their way into the couple's home in Snaefell Road, Blackburn, after posing as workmen asking to look at the water pipes.

While Mr Lepetit showed one of the men into the kitchen, the other sneaked into the lounge and stole a handbag, containing about £150, as Mrs Lepetit sat helpless in her wheelchair.

Mr Lepetit said: "How people can be so low to pinch off old people is beyond me, I think it's disgusting.

"My wife had had that handbag for 30 years and kept all her savings in it. Any bit of money she had would go in there to save up for holidays.

"If this was China these people would have their hands chopped off. At the very least they should be dragged through the street in chains when they are caught." The couple's daughter, Dawn, added: "I don't want these people to rot in hell, that's too late. I want them to rot on earth.

Detectives today appealed for witnesses and renewed advice to people to ask for identification when answering the door to unknown callers.

Det Sgt Paul Murphy, of Blackburn CID, said: "This was a particularly callous crime and we would appeal for anybody with information to call us.

"People should not allow callers into the house if they do not have identification, and if they are concerned about the validity of callers they should refuse them entry and contact the police."

The thieves were described as white, both about 5ft 5in, wearing dark tracksuits and one wearing a light coloured baseball cap. Both spoke with North East accents.

Any witnesses to the incident on Thursday at about 1.10pm should call Blackburn CID on 01254 353569 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.