POLICE are stepping up their hunt for two men wearing masks who threatened an elderly Devizes woman with a knife as they forced their way into her home.

A spokesman said: "Following extensive enquiries, we are now renewing our appeal for information in relation to a burglary in Devizes.

"The incident is believed to have happened shortly after 8am on Saturday 20 June.

"Two men forced their way into a property in Sedgefield Gardens and once inside the property, one of the men threatened the occupant – a woman in her 70s – with a weapon, believed to be a knife.

"During this time, the second man searched a bedroom at the address."

The men then left the scene and ran off in an unknown direction. It is not believed anything was stolen during the burglary.

Following enquiries, police now believe the two men attended the area the previous morning possibly to scope out the area.

On this day, the first man is described as 5 ft 10 inches tall, of slim build, wearing a grey hooded fleece top and dark trousers.

The second man is described as 5 ft 6 inches tall, wearing a black hooded fleece top and dark trousers.

When they returned on the Saturday they were both wearing face coverings and dark clothing.

Det Con Rebecca Taylor said: “We now have reason to believe the two men were in the area the previous morning. If you were in the Sedgefield Gardens area on Friday and saw two men but didn’t think anything of it at the time, please get in touch as the information you have could be really significant to our enquiries.

“If you were in the area on Saturday morning and you saw or heard the two men please call us now.”

Call 101 and quote crime reference number 54200059003.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.