RECOVERING cancer victim Geraldine Bridgewood fought off armed thugs who tried to steal her car from the driveway of her Prestwich home.

The brave mother punched and kicked out at the carjackers, and forced them to flee when she alerted her husband Jeff and 18-year-old stepson Andrew.

Andrew, an A-level student at St Bede's College in Manchester, also risked serious injury when he chased the offenders. He escaped with bruising to his chest.

Three men stormed through bushes at Mrs Bridgewood's home in Bury New Road on Wednesday night (March 27) as she was unloading shopping from her Volvo V70. One of the men was brandishing a large wrench.

The 41-year-old said: "They were shouting for me to hand over the keys. One of them had a large spanner and I feared he was going to hit me with it.

"I just thought 'no, no way am I going to give in and let this happen'. I started kicking and punching. I wasn't going to let them win."

During the scuffle, Mrs Bridgewood was pushed back and fell into the passenger seat of the Volvo and the main attacker reached in to try to grab the keys.

"He came up with my purse, not the keys, and he just stood there looking at the purse. He then looked at me and screamed at me," said the mother of three.

"The other two guys were behind him and were shouting if he had the keys. I just carried on kicking and fighting."

Mrs Bridgewood then managed to reach her house and banged on the window to alert her husband Jeff and her stepson. Both came running out and the three offenders fled.

She continued: "Andrew grabbed hold of one of the men but within seconds a car was driven at him. Two men got out of the car and came running at Andrew waving a large monkey wrench. Andrew had suffered a horrific fall last year and was still recovering. My husband was concerned about this and told Andrew to let the offender go."

Mrs Bridgewood is still recovering from a battle with cancer and on sick leave from the family-owned security company.

She told the Bury Times: "I just could not comprehend what was happening. They kept going and going at me. It seemed like five or six minutes but obviously it was just seconds.

"I was scared but I was just kicking and punching. I would do it again and again if I had to. They must not be allowed to win."

Husband Jeff said: "She is a brave lady."

Police have now launched a hunt for the three attackers who are described as white, aged about 20 and 5ft 8ins. The man carrying the spanner was thick set and wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt. The second offender was of stocky build with dark brown or black hair with a fringe and wearing a white short sleeve shirt with stripes.

Detective Inspector Jane Antrobus said: "This was an extremely nasty attack by what were obviously organised criminals who wanted that vehicle.

"Mrs Bridgewood was very brave in what she did, but I would ask everyone to think of their own personal safety before challenging this type of dangerous criminal."

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact CID at

Whitefield on 0161 856 8240 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.