A 39-year-old woman has appeared in court after sneak burglaries in the rooms of residents at two nursing homes for the elderly and disabled.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Lily May Smith, of Swift Close, Blackburn, is accused of posing as a visitor to the Queens Lodge Nursing Home, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, and rifling through drawers in the rooms of three elderly residents.

The alleged offences were committed on January 1 and Smith had been arrested after being confronted by a member of staff who called the police.

She was released on police bail.

On January 13 another burglary was reported at Holly Court, Troy Street, when £400 was found to be missing, and Smith was arrested again.

The magistrates sent Ms Smith to the Crown Court for trial.