BRAVE pensioner Minnie Butler -- who was stabbed in the face in an attempted robbery -- today vowed: "I won't let these people stop me going out."

Minnie, 86, needed eight stitches in her cheek after the thug tried to break through her front door at about 9pm on Saturday.

Minnie managed to push the attacker back through the door and out of the house -- but only after he had pulled a knife on her.

She sustained bad bruising on her arm from pushing so hard on the door to force the man out.

Minnie's husband, William, also 86, who has trouble walking, watched helplessly from the lounge as his wife fought desperately with the crook. He ran off after failing to get in.

The couple were today recovering from the ordeal at their home in the Waterloo area of Blackburn.

Minnie said: "I was determined not to let him into the house so I pushed with all my might on the door to keep him out.

"I was really angry and I think that gave me more strength.

"I didn't see the knife, I thought he was just carrying a stick or something.

"When he pushed it into my face the blood started flowing very quickly. I was covered in about two minutes."

She added: "I'm not going to let this put me off going out but I wouldn't mind living somewhere else now.

"The whole thing was very frightening."

A second pensioner was attacked just minutes after the first raid in nearby Heys Close.

In this attack, 78-year-old Jim Birch was knocked to the floor but the attacker ran off straight afterwards.

Det Sgt Paul Murphy said they were linking the two attacks and appealed for anyone with information to call Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.

He also called on pensioners to use door chains when answering the door to strangers and to always check for identification.