A pensioner was forced to eat out of her rubbish bin to survive after a food delivery was stolen from her doorstep, police have said.

Metropolitan Police officers were notified of a woman who had no friends or family nearby and so had ordered groceries online.

However, the 84-year-old became ”imprisoned in her own home” in Feltham, south London, after accidentally locking herself inside “with no way of leaving”, officers said.

While she was trapped, a “callous individual took advantage of the situation” and stole the food delivery from her front doorstep, the Met said in a Facebook post.

When officers arrived at her home they found the victim “had literally no food in” her fridge and “had resorted to eating out of the rubbish bin to survive”.

PCs Matt Hodge and Pat Peltier bought her some food, drinks and toiletries.

They also purchased “a few other necessities to fill her home and make her feel more comfortable”.

The woman “was overwhelmed with the officer’s selflessness and generosity and thanked them for their help”, the force said.

“The officers have put the necessary action in place to ensure this heart-breaking situation doesn’t happen again.”

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