POLICE in Great Harwood have urged pensioners to be vigilant after an 84-year-old woman had cash stolen from a purse in her home.

Officers believe the woman was followed home from the post office in St Hubert's Road, where she had picked up her pension, to her house in Lomax Street.

The thief opened the back gate to the house and got in through the unlocked front door. He stole a red leather purse, containing £60 cash and a Yale key with an Aries star sign key ring.

He then saw the woman in the back yard, closing the gate, and approached her and asked her questions about dustbins before leaving through the yard.

The incident happened between 9.30am and 10.30am on Tuesday. The man was white, 5ft 10ins tall, thin, in his '40s or '50s, with short dark hair, greying at the sides. He was wearing a blue top and blue pants.

Anyone with any information should call Great Harwood Police on 01254 353334 or the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.