AN 88-year-old woman was viciously attacked in her own home after being targeted by burglars for the fourth time.

The pensioner, who lives alone in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, was forced upstairs by a man who broke into the rear of the house at about 11.30am yesterday.

The woman, who has not been named by police, was assaulted and left upstairs with her wrists and ankles tied with a belt and a light pull cord while the man ransacked her home. She was recovering in hospital today.

Speaking from her hospital bed, she said: "I thought my number was up. I didn't think I was going to see daylight again. I've had a very lucky escape, I could have been murdered."

A neighbour said it was the fourth time in ten years her house had been burgled.

Police were called when the woman alerted neighbours by throwing a vase through an upstairs window but the man escaped with property from the house.

Det Insp Ron Griffiths said the pensioner was recovering from extreme shock and minor injuries in Burnley General Hospital and being comforted by a woman police officer. Hospital staff said she was in a "comfortable" condition.

He went on: "I'm absolutely disgusted by this incident. This was a serious assault on an elderly and vulnerable lady and we are appealing to anyone in the area at the time to come forward and help."

Neighbours said the street was filled with half a dozen police vehicles as officers rushed to the scene. "It's a terrible thing to happen to anyone, let alone an old lady," said one. Police issued a description of the attacker as white, about 21-years-old and 5ft 10ins tall with a proportionate build. He had black cropped hair, was unshaven and bore a Celtic-style tattoo on his forearm. He was wearing a blue football-style T-shirt, blue jeans and beige trainers.

Mr Griffiths went on: "We desperately need help from members of the public who were in the area and may have seen anything at the time.

"This was a very serious incident. The old lady was forced upstairs in her own home and assaulted before her home was ransacked. Anyone who saw anything should come forward and speak to us."

Anyone with any information should contact Nelson CID on 01282 472644.

A 21-year-old man and a 34-year-old man, both from Nelson, have been arrested and were due to be interviewed by detectives today.

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