HEARTLESS sneak thieves swiped this frail 87-year-old war widow's bag while she was having her hair done.

The incident left Nellie Stevens too scared to leave the house, but desperate to recover the treasured possessions in the bag.

Mrs Stevens was getting her hair done in Vonnies Hairdressers in Chestnut Grove, New Earswick, York, at 2.45pm on Friday when two youths came in and took her red shopping bag.

The bag contained her purse containing £200 pension money and her credit and debit cards, but far more important to her was a photograph of her late husband, George Henry Stevens, who was killed in the Second World War.

It also contained a small gold brooch presented to Mrs Stevens earlier this year by the Ministry Of Defence in recognition of the work she carried out at a munitions factory in London during the war.

Mrs Stevens' daughter, Georgina Barber, of Hawthorn Avenue, Haxby, told the Evening Press, her mother was "upset beyond words" by the incident and broke down in tears whenever she thought about it.

"Whoever did this should be completely ashamed of themselves," said Mrs Barber.

"My mother has not been very well and had just got her confidence back to be independent and go out on her own.

"This has set her right back. She's now too scared to go out.

"To be quite honest we don't care about the money - she's said herself if they'd have asked for that she'd have given it to them.

"It's the memorabilia that has been lost that she cares about.

"The photo of my dad is the last one he sent to her before he was killed and means so much to her.

"He was only 29 when he died and my mum always said she would never remarry."

Along with Mrs Steven's chequebook, the bag also contained her Dunkirk Veterans membership card which she is also eager to recover.

Mrs Stevens had been to the post office to withdraw her pension, minutes before the thieves struck.

She had not long been in the hairdressers when another shopkeeper came in to alert them that he thought the youths were up to no good.

But, unfortunately, it was too late and they made off with Mrs Steven's bag from off the top of her brown and white wheelie shopping trolley.

Anyone who might have seen the bag or any of the items should phone Christine at the Folk Hall in New Earswick on 01904 769621.

The incident has been reported to the police, who are investigating. Witnesses should phone PC Phil Low on 0845 6060247.

Updated: 09:28 Thursday, October 20, 2005