POLICE are hunting a man who stole cash from an elderly woman who left her door open while she went to visit a neighbour in a quiet village.

The 81-year-old, who lives alone in Lanchester, returned to her Valley Drive home at 1.30pm on Tuesday to see a man leaving her house and getting on a bicycle.

She spoke to him and he said he was looking for Steven, which meant nothing to the woman, before he headed off in the direction of Lanchester village.

The woman went in the house to find the front room had been ransacked.

Her purse, which contained £50 cash, a bank card and a Post Office book was missing so she called the police.

Sergeant Karen Naunton said: "Officers who are investigating believe the man may have been spotted by children on the old railway line.

"Since he was heading towards Lanchester village, it is possible he was local too the area or it is possible he was travelling towards Delves Lane."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

"We would like to hear from anyone who spotted him or might recognise him from the description or the computer image."

Anyone with information can call Durham Constabulary on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.