A BLIND 88-year-old woman has spoken of her relief after a burglar who raided her home was caught and put behind bars within days.

Colin Halstead, 22, of Lion Street, Church, admitted a charge of burglary on his first appearance for the offence at Hyndburn Magistrates Court yesterday.

Frail Lily Leah said she thought she was going to die when the intruder ripped back her bed covers and demanded money at 3.40am on Saturday.

She said she has been left "numb" with fear after the burglary at her home in Church.

Lily said: "I'm really pleased that the police have found him.

"I can't thank them enough, all I wanted was for him to be put behind bars.

I wouldn't want anybody else to go through what I've been through.

"Every time I think about it I begin to tremble and I'm numb. It was horrible."

Talking about the raid the brave pensioner, who is registered blind but has slight vision, said she was lying in bed when her quilt suddenly disappeared and a man wearing a balaclava stood over her.

She said she screamed as he repeatedly shouted at her: "Where is it? Where is it? Where is your money?"

Lily said she was too scared to speak but finally managed to tell him she did not keep money in the house after being targeted by crooks twice before.

She said: "I have never been so scared in my life. When I screamed he ran off.

"I couldn't stop shaking."

Police said Halstead broke into the house by smashing the kitchen window.

Lily's daughter-in-law Janice, 58, who lives next door, has been comforting her since the burglary.

She said: "I don't know who could do this to her."

Halstead was remanded in custody to Preston Crown Court by magistrates and will be sentenced in January.