86-year-old hit burglars she found in her home

The no-nonsense pensioner said her only wish was that she had hit the cowardly duo harder.

Police have now taken away the woman’s walking stick for forensic tests in the hope it may help them track down the crooks.

The softly spoken woman, who did not want to be named, said: “My only wish is that I’d hit them harder. I was just so cross.

“They had the audacity to break into my house and I thought that was just dreadful.”

The woman was making a cup of tea at her home, in Eastwood Old Road, Leigh, when the back door flew open.

Moments later, the woman noticed the crooks had forced open the french doors, sneaked in and begun their search for valuables in the home.

Feeling uneasy, the woman said she went into her lounge where she heard a noise.

She walked out of the room when she saw the burglars – a man with a boy thought to be as young as ten – sneaking out of her dining room and making their way to the front door.

The pensioner said: “I raised my stick and the man tried to take it off me, but I hit him on the head twice.

“I then hit the boy on the head twice and they opened the front door and they scarpered.

“I’m sure they were surprised, but it was just instant action on my part.

“I’ve always told people that if I found anyone in my house I would hit them with my stick and that’s what I did.”

After the thieves fled, the pensioner phoned relatives and police.

It was later discovered the thieves had ransacked the woman’s bedroom and taken jewellery and cash. Police are not yet sure of the value of items stolen.

Officers are investigating the break-in.

PC Ian Ling said: “This pair targeted an elderly lady by forcing their way into her home.

“But I imagine they got more that they bargained for when she disturbed them.”

The man and boy were both white, smartly dressed and wearing anorak-style jackets.

Witnesses to the burglary, which happened at around 7pm on Saturday, can contact PC Ling at Southend police on 0300 3334444.