A DISABLED pensioner had her precious savings stolen as she sat in a wheelchair at her home.

The partially deaf 87-year-old had been watching television when two strangers suddenly appeared in the lounge of her sheltered flat.

Police said one man distracted the woman by pointing out of the window, while his accomplice sneaked into a bedroom and ransacked her wardrobe.

Within seconds the pair were gone - with hundreds of pounds in savings which the widow had put by over the years. Detectives were today hunting two smartly dressed conmen who sneaked into her warden-controlled flat in Malin Close, Lordshill, on Monday morning.

Police said the victim, who has four children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, only realised what had happened when she found the contents of her wardrobe spilled all over her bed.

She immediately rang her daughter, who alerted police.

Today Detective Constable Daryl James, of Shirley CID, said: "This was a despicable crime against a vulnerable old lady in her warden-controlled flat.

"We want to hear from any person who may have seen anyone suspicious in the area at the time."

It is not clear how the men got into the flat but police said the victim had visitors earlier that day who may have accidentally left the door unlocked.

Both intruders were white, aged in their 30s, of medium build and quite smartly dressed.

Yesterday the victim's daughter, who asked not to be named, said: "How they could just walk in and do something like this is quite beyond me."

Information on the break-in, which happened between 10.30am and 1pm on Monday, to Shirley CID on 0845 045 4545 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

* The burglary is not believed to be linked with an incident in Pound Street, Bitterne, in which two bogus workmen tricked their way into the home of an 83-year-old man around 6.30pm on Monday.

Police said one intruder, described as white, 20 to 35, 5ft 4in to 5ft 8in and of medium build, fiddled with taps at the property while his accomplice stole £40 cash from a drawer.

Call Bitterne crimedesk on 0845 045 4545 with any information.