AN elderly woman was left terrified after coming face-to-face with a thief who had sneaked into her Great Harwood home, says her daughter.

Marian Rutter says 92-year-old Jessie Carr, who is partially sighted and walks with a frame, found the man in her house, in Ward Street, around 11.30am on Thursday.

Mrs Rutter, 66, of Grimshaw Street, said: "She asked him what he wanted and he said he had lost his dog and he thought it had run up her stairs."

The man whistled and called after his dog, but no dog appeared. He then left the house.

They later found out that he had been upstairs, searched a bedroom and stole Mrs Carr's purse, which contained £35.

Mrs Rutter said: "She was very shaken by the whole thing and she is now frightened that someone will break in while she is in bed.

"We are just thankful that she was not harmed."

The man got in through the unlocked front door.

Mrs Rutter said: "I had been at my Mum's and when I left she told me not to lock the door because her carer was due a few minutes later to make her lunch.

"We want to warn people to make sure their doors are kept locked at all times.

"The people who commit this kind of crime have no shame. They have no pity for elderly people."

St Dave Reddin, from Great Harwood police, said: "The offender has approached an insecure, but closed front door. Once inside he has made a tidy search of the front upstairs bedroom. While downstairs he has been challenged by an elderly disabled female."

The offender is described as white, in his 30s, 5ft 6ins tall, slim, with short hair and a bald spot.

He was wearing dark blue clothing. After leaving the house he walked towards Grimshaw Street.

Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the incident on 01254 884800.