Mourners have left flowers at the home of a north London pensioner who died on Wednesday (December 5) after her home was ransacked by a gang of burglars.

Police were still stationed outside the property, on Bells Hill in Barnet in north London, this morning.

Detectives named the victim as 77-year-old Maureen Whale.

Metropolitan Police said: "Officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw three suspects in the area around the time of the burglary in Bells Hill, Barnet, as well as trace specific witnesses.

"Police were called at 18:01hrs on Tuesday, 4 December 2018 to reports of a burglary at Miss Whale’s home.

"She called police after two men gained entry to her home while a third kept look-out. The suspects stole property, including, it is believed, her bag.

"While on the telephone to the police operator Miss Whale, who lived alone, collapsed."

Whale was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where she died yesterday. Her next of kin have been informed.

A crime scene is in place and enquiries are underway to establish if the burglary is linked to other similar offences in the area, the Met Police said.

Locals say that this area of High Barnet has seen a spate of burglaries of late.

Mourners have left flowers at the home of a London pensioner who died after her home was ransacked by a gang of burglars.

Police were stationed outside the property, on Bells Hill in Barnet in north London.

The incident occurred at around 6pm last night (December 6)