CUNNING "hook and cane" burglars stole a Mercedes coupe car from the home of Brookside actress Diane Burke, it emerged today.

The soap star, who plays Katie Rogers in the Channel 4 show, was said to have been asleep when the raiders struck at her home in Huyton, Merseyside, early on Saturday.

It is believed the 26-year-old actress may have fallen prey to criminals who use a hooked stick to fish for keys through letter boxes.

Miss Burke, a veteran of the Mersey TV soap, today told of her distress.

She said: "I am really angry about this - and I am obviously worried and frightened about what happened.

"I want to warn other people about this crime which the police say is not that uncommon any more. Even so, you never expect something like this to happen to you."

Police confirmed an investigation was underway into a "hook and cane" burglary in the Huyton area on Saturday, November 23 in which a Mercedes coupe was stolen.

Detective Chief Inspector Ray Galloway, from Merseyside Police, said: "There are a number of incidents like these that occur both on Merseyside and across the country, even though they are so easy to prevent.

"The best way to ensure it doesn't happen to you is by making sure that valuables and keys are not left where they can be seen or stolen from the letter box using a hook and cane.

"Most of these offences happen overnight and often people don't realise until they look for their keys the next morning," Mr Galloway added.