POLICE have warned elderly people in Wootton Bassett to be on their guard after burglars posing as workmen stole £130 from a 92-year-old woman.

Police said the incident took place in New Road, at about 2pm on October 18, when two men knocked on the victim's door and said they were part of a group of workmen carrying out street repairs.

They said they needed to check the property's water pipes and asked the woman to go upstairs and flush the toilet twice.

While the woman was upstairs, the men ransacked a sideboard and removed £115 from a tin and £15 from a purse.

The first man was described as white with a dark, swarthy complexion, about 5ft 8ins, aged between 40 and 50 and of stocky build.

The second man had a clean-shaven, round face with short, curly hair.

Police spokesman Adrian Burt said: "This is an awful crime where offenders have preyed on an elderly person. Older people can be very trusting, so this is a nasty incident."

He said all authorised workmen should carry some form of official identification, and all residents should ask to see it before admitting anyone into their properties.

If in doubt, they should refuse the request for entry and call the company concerned to verify the identification.

Anyone with information should call police on (01793) 852213.