A 90-year-old woman had her handbag stolen in a distraction burglary in Moreton in Marsh on Monday.

The woman was visited in her home at Hospital Road at about 5.30pm by a man who offered to do some gardening.

She declined, but as they were talking, they were joined by another man, and the two left in a small white van.

When the woman went back into the house, she discovered that a number of rooms had been searched and her handbag was missing.

Both men are described as white, about 6ft tall and wearing what appeared to be a uniform of navy blue trousers and blue long sleeved polo shirts with a small emblem on the left breast.

Police believe the theft is linked to a second incident which happened in the Knowle area of Tirley, near Tewkesbury, about an hour and a half later where another 90-year-old woman was visited by a man who offered to sweep the drive.

She declined and the man left with another man in a white van. When they left, the woman discovered that her handbag had been stolen from the bedroom.

The first man is described as young, white, slim, and wearing a hoodie. The second man was white and of medium height and build.

Officers are also looking at links to an incident in Broadway, Worcestershire, where two men were seen behaving suspiciously in Leamington Road.

One was carrying a black handbag with gold clasps and the other a pillow case which appeared to have items inside. They left the area in a small white van and it was later discovered that an unoccupied property had been broken into.

One man is described as Asian, 5ft 10ins with short, dark, curly hair and wearing a beanie hat. The other is white, 5ft 11ins, slim build and wearing a dark hoodie.

Anyone with information is asked to call DC Faye Satchwell-Bennet on 01452 753094 quoting incidents 389 and 424 of 7/8 (Gloucestershire) or incident 647S 070817 (Worcestershire).