A PENSIONER who lost a week's income to pickpockets has branded the thieves despicable.

Regular churchgoer May Houghton was shopping in Northwich when a middle aged couple combined to steal her purse from her bag.

"I think they're most despicable people," said the sprightly 80-year-old.

"To think anyone could walk around town trying to steal other people's money."

May was on one of her regular shopping trips to Northwich when the thieves struck, in Paperchain last Thursday lunchtime. After picking up her pension near her Barnton home, she had her hair done and got a lift into town.

She visited Marks and Spencer's and then Griffiths' - where she thinks the thieves started following her.

"I remember saying I must make sure I had my purse in my bag," she remembered. "They must have heard and trailed me to the card shop."

May was choosing cards when she became aware of two people standing very close to her. And when she came to pay, she realised her purse was missing.

As well as £50 of her own money, May also lost £40 given to her to buy ingredients for a wedding cake and £10 for her church Christmas club. Now May is urging fellow pensioners to be careful. "They have to be more vigilant," she said. "If someone gets really close to you, make sure they're not up to no good."

Police believe the thieves target the elderly on Thursdays - pension day - and are urging them to take extra care.

Did you see a middle-aged couple acting suspiciously in Paperchain last Thursday? If so, ring Northwich police on 48000.

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