BURGLARS have stolen more than £100 from a 100-year-old woman.

A man and a woman knocked on the door of the woman's home on Surtees Street, in Darlington, at around 6.30pm last night, claiming their football had gone into her yard, a police spokeswoman said.

The victim led the woman through the house while the man waited outside the property, which is near the junction with Hopetown Lane.

When they left the woman realised they had taken £130 in cash.

The female suspect is described as looking young, and had her hair tied back.

Detective Sergeant Jo Godber, from Darlington CID, said: "Burglary is a horrific crime regardless, but to target a 100-year-old woman is simply despicable.

"We are appealing for anyone who has any information that could help our investigation, or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time, to come forward." 

Anyone who has any information about the incident should call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 377 of May 5.