THREE men claiming to be officials from a utility company stole thousands of pounds in cash from a 79-year-old woman, police have revealed.

Officers said a man approached the house in Albion Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, just after 6pm on Saturday claiming to work for a water company and saying that there was an issue with the water supply to the property.

The man is understood to have headed for the kitchen and distracted the woman.

Police said that while this was happening two other men went upstairs and found bundles of cash totalling thousands of pounds.

The men then went to the living room and were disturbed by the pensioner as they went through her handbag.

The trio then fled from the house clutching the money.

The three men were described as white, with one being around 6ft tall, stocky, clean shaven and wearing a baseball cap and black leather gloves.

Another of the men is described 5ft 9in tall, of slim build and in his late 20s.

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers - anonymously and free - on 0800 555111.