POLICE are anxious to trace a burglar who TOOK a lampshade to the home of a 73-years-old Hindley Green woman he was robbing!

After the man was disturbed in the living room by the woman at 5am on Sunday, he made-off leaving the floral lampshade behind.

The man, described only as white with dark hair and grey jumper, threatened the woman with a pair of shears from her garden shed when he was in the house.

He pushed the woman to one side and she fell over. A number of ornaments were broken.

Det Ch Insp Mike Whiting said the man left with the woman's handbag and two pension books. The bag has been recovered.

Mr Whiting added that the man was seen 10 minutes earlier at the junction of Smiths Lane/Wigan Road carrying the lampshade towards the woman's house.

"The lampshade is an unusual item to take on a burglary. The man had carried it some distance. I am appealling for anyone who recognises the shade - it maybe your friends or neighbours - to get in touch with us.

"I also want to talk to anyone who saw this man."

Mr Whiting said the old lady was made of 'stern stuff' but she was shocked by the incident.

Contact Leigh CID on 0161-856-7245.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.