A second elderly woman has been burgled by four men wearing surgical masks, in as many weeks.

A woman in her late eighties was left terrified after she answered her front door to four men who then forced their way into her home on Badminton Road, Yate.

After breaking into her home, at around 6.45pm on Monday, the four men wearing face masks, stole two purses.

The elderly woman raised the alarm by pressing her emergency panic button.

The men are described as being about 6ft tall, white, of stocky build, dressed in black and wearing face coverings.

The stolen purses were found dumped on Bristol Road in Winterbourne, next to the playing fields at Nicholls Field, at about 8.25pm.

The break-in mirrors an incident that happened in Boundary Road Coalpit Heath in November, where four men broke into the property of a woman in her 90’s and ransacked her home whilst she sat in her chair.

The two homes are less than 5 miles apart and the discarded property was found in locations also only a few miles apart.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: “Officers have conducted house-to-house and CCTV enquiries and the victim is being supported by officers from Avon and Somerset’s Be Home Safe service."

Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or noticed any suspicious activity in the area.

Police are reminding residents to use a door chain or guard whenever they answer the door to unknown or unexpected visitors.

Always ensure that all unattended doors and windows are closed and locked before opening the door.

Remember you don’t have to answer the door if you have any concerns, and a genuine caller will happily come back at a time when you can have someone with you.

If you have any information regarding this incident contact the Police on 101 and quote Reference number: 5220275077.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.