BURGLARS who broke in to a terrified 92-year-old woman's home while she slept told her they were policemen.

The thieves are thought to have taken about £5,000 in cash after the raid on the house in Alexander Close, Malmesbury, on Friday.

The frightened pensioner, who lives on her own, was asleep downstairs in a chair when the men broke into her house, at about 8.30pm on Friday.

She was woken by the noise of them ransacking her house and confronted them. They told her they were police officers and demanded to know where she kept her savings.

The pensioner refused to tell them and the men left, locking her in the house.

Police discovered they had forced a door open to break in to her home.

Officers investigating the raid said she was left shaken by the incident and has been staying with nearby relatives since.

Police deplored the raiders' actions. PC Mike Tripp, beat manager for the Malmesbury Town Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "It is just appalling, it really is the lowest of the low," he said.

"To force their way into the home of a 92-year-old lady, pretend to be from the police, then lock her in her own home is sick.

"This is a woman who lives on her own. How low and cowardly can you get?"

He is urging anyone with any information to come forward and speak to police.

Inspector Mark Levitt also spoke of his extreme displeasure at the actions of the men.

"This was a truly despicable offence," he said.

Inspector Mike White, from the control room in Devizes, said there had been three or four men in the house, according to the victim.

The woman was too shaken up to be able to give descriptions of the men.

Police have appealed for anyone with information, who was in the area of Alexander Road on Friday night, or who saw anything unusual, to contact them.

The incident is also being linked to similar offences that have occurred in the Avon and Somerset area over the last week.

PC Tripp can be reached at Malmesbury Police Station on 0845 408 7000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.