A HELPLESS 88-year-old woman was deeply shocked when she came face to face with two intruders in her home.

Although they continued to search the building in Rossendale Avenue, Burnley, and asked for £50 or her pension book, they left empty-handed when she refused.

Police say the incident at 11am yesterday could be linked to an earlier crime at 9.20am when a bogus workman stole a purse containing cash and a bus pass from the home of an elderly woman in Windsor Street. Detectives investigating both incidents have warned the elderly to be on the alert for bogus callers and not to allow anyone they do not know into their homes.

The men who went uninvited into the house in Rossendale Avenue are of medium height and build and wearing light coloured clothing.

The Windsor Street thief was allowed into the house when he said he was a worker looking for a blocked drain.

He asked to be shown through the house and into the back yard.

He is in his forties, 5ft 3ins, stocky, with an Irish accent. He was wearing a fluorescent work jacket.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about either incident, or other people who may have been approached in similar circumstances, to contact Burnley CID on 01282-425001.

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