A three-year-old girl with a bobble in her hair is part of a gang which is burgling homes in the Aire Valley.

Detectives in the Keighley police division - which also contains Shipley and Bingley - said a woman and two children are targeting vulnerable householders and stealing cash and jewellery.

This week the trio walked into the homes of two victims, both women in their 80s, and took items. Now police are appealing for help in tracking them down. They are warning householders to keep their doors locked at all times.

At 12.30pm on Monday the young woman and two children - a boy aged about seven and a girl of around three - walked into the Greenhead Road, Utley, home of an 83-year-old woman.

The youngsters began a conversation with the pensioner while the adult rooted through drawers. They then asked to use the toilet but instead entered their victim's bedroom and stole a £500 gold chain from a jewellery box.

About an hour later the trio struck again, this time at the home of an 84-year-old woman in Cromer Grove, Ingrow.

The boy entered through an open door, followed by the other two, and asked the resident for a glass of water. He disappeared for a short time and on his reappearance the three made a swift exit. The pensioner discovered that her purse, containing a small amount of cash, had been stolen.

Detective Inspector Shaun Berry, of Keighley CID, said both victims were very distressed. He said: "These were callous offences in which the elderly have been targeted. They are the first of this type reported in the division but this group has no doubt called at other houses in the area."

He asked anyone who may have seen or been approached by the trio, or has any information, to come forward. It is believed a vehicle might have been used.

The young woman is white, in her 20s, with short dark spiky hair. She is about 5ft 1in, very thin, and wore a dirty white cardigan.

The boy is said to have clean, short, mousy hair and the little girl wore her hair in a pink bobble.

DI Berry added: "Despite the warmer weather, we advise people to keep their doors shut and locked and don't let people in unless you know who they are."

Anyone with information should phone Keighley Police on (01535) 617059.