AN 86-year-old man was bitten twice on his arm as he tried to stop a distraction burglar from stealing cash from his wife.

The incident happened at about 4.30pm yesterday after the offender called at the house and asked to use the toilet.

The man and his 78-year-old wife let the woman, thought to be in her late teens, use a downstairs bathroom.

As she was leaving the house, the offender grabbed a purse and took an amount of cash from it.

The pensioner tried to restrain the woman but she escaped after biting him on the arm and ran off along Cambridge Street, in Derby.

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

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