TWO grey-haired women have been cautioned by police after they admitted stealing a student's purse.

The pensioners handed themselves in less than 48 hours after officers released security camera footage of them shuffling along the platform at Sunderland Central Station before they committed the theft.

The pickpocket pensioners stole the wallet from the female student after she left her bag unattended at the station on her way to university.

The pair handed the bag in to police to cover their tracks, but when their pictures were released, they handed themselves over at a local police station.

A spokeswoman for the British Transport Police confirmed last night that both elderly women admitted the offence.

She said: "Two females being sought by the British Transport Police in connection with a theft at Sunderland Central Station have handed themselves in to police.

"They have subsequently been interviewed and have admitted the offence. Both have received police cautions."

The security camera footage showed the grey-haired women, one with a bandaged ankle, chuckling to themselves only moments before they stole the purse.

The two frail women, in their 70s, were pictured holding on to each other for support.

When the student collected her bag from police, she realised her wallet was missing, sparking a search for the pensioners.

PC Gavin Alcorn, who led the investigation, said: "The student had left her bag for just a few minutes and the elderly ladies saw the bag and brought it into to our office at the station.

"They had just got off a train from Newcastle. When the student came back to look for the bag, she came to us and checked her possessions.

"She told us her student ID, Malaysian driving license and a small amount of cash had been taken.

"It is a very unusual case, but I do not think it is the start of a campaign by the older members of the public.