Distraction burglars posing as council workers robbed an elderly woman.

One of the thieves knocked on the door of the 84-year-old woman at about 5.05pm on Saturday and told her he needed to check the elderly lady’s water due to a potential gas leak.

Once the man had entered the house, in Bramley Road, Oakwood, the woman noticed a second man had entered and was in the living room.

But when the woman called the police the men ran away and towards Oakwood station.

The thieves took £51 from her purse.

One man is described as white, tall, with a strong Irish accent and aged between 30 and 40 years old. He was wearing a faded, washed-out blue top.

The second man was also white, small than the other, with a stocky build and was wearing a zipped-up, tweed-coloured bomber jacket.

Anyone with information should contact Enfield police.