A 91-year-old woman was pinned to the ground while robbers ransacked her home.

The pensioner heard noises from the front room of her home in Midgley Road inBurley-in-Wharfedale at about 1.30pm yesterday and discovered a man inside.

A police spokesman said: "She asked him what he was doing and he replied that he had come to check the water.

"When she asked for identification, he was evasive and then pinned her down on the ground while two other men searched through her home, escaping with a large quantity of cash."

"This was a very nasty incident. We need to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen something suspicious."

The victim suffered bruising but, although she was severely shocked by the ordeal, she did not require hospital treatment.

The suspects were described as being three white men aged between 20 and 30.

Anyone with information should contact Keighley CID on (01535) 617083.