AN ELDERLY woman was pinned to a chair while a gang ransacked her home. Four men called at her house in Armstrong Street claiming to be water company workers.

The resident was instantly suspicious and refused to let them in.

But as she tried to close the door on them, the gang barged their way in.

One of the men ordered her to sit in a chair and held her down while the others rifled through her belongings.

The woman's neighbour, who asked not to be named, said the terrified victim had come to her for help.

She asked her to ring the police following the ordeal.

The burglary took place about 7pm on Friday.

The neighbour said the victim had told the men she was not letting them in but to tell her what the problem was and she would get it fixed.

The men then barged their way into the terrace house.

One of the four then told the woman to sit down.

He held her there while the other three thugs burgled the property.

Police have not yet released details of what was stolen.

"They told her they were from the water board," the neighbour said.

"They forced their way in and one held her down and the others ransacked the place."

The neighbour said the many elderly residents of the street were shocked by what had happened.

"We have all been in the street for a long time," she said.

"It's not only a shock for her, it's a shock for the whole street.

"I didn't see them.

"I didn't know until she asked me to use the phone.

"She was very shaken up.

"It's a real shock for an old person.

"It's really shocked me."

Another Armstrong Street resident said she never opened the door after 5pm.

She believes the gang had kept the house under surveillance before going in.

"It's very easy," she said.

"I think somebody observed when they wanted to go in to the house.

"I think you don't open the door at 7.30pm.

"I would never open the door at that time of night.

"God knows who's behind the door."

Inspector Roger Bull said the Swindon police's crime targeting team was investigating the case.

He said they wanted to hear from anyone with information or who had seen the men, believed to be between 18 and 25 years, with local accents.

The man who held the woman down had short, fair, spiky hair and was wearing a checked shirt.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Swindon police on 0845 408 7000.