NEIGHBOURS of an 86-year-old man who was bitten on the arm during a distraction burglary said they were "disgusted" after hearing about the attack.

The pensioner and his wife had let a woman, thought to be in her late teens, into their home after she asked to use their toilet.

As she was leaving the property, in Leacroft Road, Derby, she snatched a purse from a coat and took cash out of it.

The pensioner tried to restrain the woman but she escaped after biting him twice on the arm and ran off towards nearby Cambridge Street. Victor Shah, 49, of Leacroft Road, said: "It's very distressing.

"I feel sorry for the couple who live there and I think it is disgusting that someone would do that, especially to an elderly couple."

The offender is white, about 5ft 2ins, of slim build with blonde, shoulder-length hair. She was wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket and a black bum-bag.

Police said she made off with an amount of cash after the burglary, which happened at about 4.30pm on Tuesday.

It happened only days after a 93-year-old war veteran was attacked at his Chaddesden home, during which a large amount of money was taken.

In that incident, at about 8.30pm on Friday, three thugs broke in through a locked rear door and assaulted the Second World War marine, who suffered bruising.

Police are investigating a link with a raid at Chad Booze, in Chaddesden, at about 8.45pm on Monday when shopkeeper Jhalman Singh was struck with a bike lock.

Witnesses or anyone with information should ring Derbyshire police on 0345 123 3333.