NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after a semi-naked pensioner was "frogmarched" to a Hampshire supermarket and forced to withdraw hundreds of pounds.

The victim, described by police as vulnerable, was in bed when two men broke into his house in Pointout Road, Southampton, and made him walk to a nearby branch of Sainsbury's Local.

One of his neighbours said the pensioner was wearing only his underpants and either a coat or a jacket.

The two burglars forced him to go to the supermarket at the junction of Hill Lane and Winchester Road and withdraw £200 from a cashpoint machine.

They fled the scene immediately afterwards - leaving the partially-clothed pensioner to walk home again.

Last night Pointout Road residents described the incident as "scary" - and condemned the burglars for subjecting their victim to such a traumatic ordeal.

One woman said: "It's crazy - I don't think anything like this has ever happened in this street before."

The pensioner, who lives alone, moved to the area more than 20 years ago and is understood to be in his late sixties.

One of his neighbours said: "Two men smashed his front door and frogmarched him down to Sainsbury's. He was dressed in his underpants with only a coat or jacket on top."

Ward councillor John Hannides described the late-night incident as shocking.

He said: "It's totally unacceptable that anyone should be forced to hand over money or property. The way it was done in this particular case must have been particularly distressing for the person involved."

A police spokeswoman said the pensioner was in a "state of undress".

She added: "Two men broke into his home and took loose change and tobacco before walking the man out of Pointout Road, down Winchester Road and into Hill Lane."

The supermarket is next to a busy roundabout and police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about midnight on February 24-25.

One of the men is described as white, 5ft 6in, aged about 35, and of slight or medium build. He was wearing a furry hat and dark clothing.

His accomplice, also white, was 6ft, aged about 40, and of medium build. He was wearing dark clothing and a hat

PC Kimberley Duncan, of the Western Investigation Team, said police were anxious to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time.

Anyone who saw something suspicious, or remembers seeing three men walking along the route taken by the burglars and their victim, should call 101 quoting reference 44170072447.