New clue to widow's killers

Thelma Avis became suspicious and called her family

Detectives investigating the death of a 90-year-old widow who collapsed after her savings were stolen are searching for two men who tried to talk their way into a nearby home.

Police said the men, who claimed to be gas workers, called at a woman's flat in Colchester, Essex, less than a quarter of a mile away from the home of Thelma Avis.

They left after refusing to show identity cards and the woman, who has not been named, called police.

Mrs Avis's death is being treated as murder.

Gas leak

Post-mortem tests showed that she had heart disease and police believe that the trauma of being burgled in her own home triggered her death.

Housebound Mrs Avis, who lived alone and used a walking frame, was confronted by a man in her home pretending to investigate a gas leak at about 1730 BST on Friday, 4 July.

After around 25 minutes she became suspicious, called a member of her family and the man left.

She then discovered that more than £1,000 was missing.

Four hours later she collapsed and died.

Police think that the man had an accomplice who sneaked in and stole the money while she was distracted.