SHOPPERS are being warned to beware after four women had their purses snatched in Kendal town centre.

The thefts took place in four separate locations; Booths supermarket, Boots, Ethel Austin and Marks and Spencer over the lunchtime period on Wednesday.

The Booths victim believes her purse was taken after she was distracted and one of the purses was recovered, missing its contents behind the Holland and Barrett health food shop.

According to the police, CCTV footage has revealed four suspects - two men and two women - who are believed to be Eastern European.

The first woman is between 20 and 40 years old with medium length dark brown hair and was carrying a red shoulder bag while the second female suspect is in her late teens to early 20s with long, dark hair and was wearing a puffer jacket with a hooded top beneath.

The first male suspect had short grey hair while the second is in his early 20s with short dark hair and was wearing a light coloured hooded top with a criss-cross design.

Cumbria Police crime prevention manager Terry Belshaw said: "A lot of people like to carry their purses on top of their bags where they can see them for convenience, but this is a godsend to a thief. I would advise people to be discreet with their purses and maybe even distribute money and cards around their person so if something does happen they don't lose everything at once."