TWO women were left severely shaken after a burglar forced them to the floor in their Southampton flat.

Police said the pair, both in their 50s, had allowed a man into their block of flats to visit an upstairs resident.

The caller, who they say looked like a workman, went upstairs and knocked on a door but returned downstairs after getting no reply.

On his way out, he grabbed one of the women who had let him in and pulled her into her flat.

Police said she managed to shout for her stepsister, who came out of the bedroom. The intruder then forced both women to the floor and fled.

Both women suffered minor injuries during the incident at Wilton Avenue, Polygon.

Police said the pair suffered shock afterwards and were still having flashbacks about what happened.

The incident took place at about 3pm last Tuesday but details were not released until today as police appealed for witnesses.

Police said the intruder had a European or Mediterranean appearance and was aged 25 to 30. He was about 5ft 10in, stocky, with a foreign accent, and was dressed in a grey woollen hat and a waist-length dark jacket.

The women described him as possibly Spanish or Greek and said he had the appearance of a builder or workman with slightly dirty clothing.

Anyone with information is urged to call investigating officer PC Heather Engley at the Southampton burglary unit at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545.

Alternatively, ring the free and anonymous Southern Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.