A 102-year-old woman said teenage yobs are ‘making her life a misery’ by breaking into her garden and vandalising her property.

The retired youth offender worker said the groups of boys and girls have left her ‘frightened, miserable and isolated’ in her own home in the Rosegrove area of Burnley.

Police are investigating the incidents at her bungalow. And Burnley Council leader Charlie Briggs said he was ‘absolutely disgusted’ that the pensioner, who assembled Lancaster bombers during the Second World War, was being targeted.

The pensioner, who did not want to be identified, said the yobs have: - broken into her padlocked garden
- damaged her fence panels
- thrown stones at her house
- played in her garden
She said: “I think they target me because they know I am an elderly woman living alone. I am scared to tell them off in case they attack me.

“There would be nothing I could do to defend myself if that happened.

“The local police officer came round and was really nice but he can’t do anything unless he catches them in the act. This anti-social behaviour is really making my life miserable.”

The centenarian, who worked in a male youth offenders home in Blackpool before her retirement, recently asked her great-nephew to install another telephone in her bedroom so she could call for help during the night if she needed.

The widow, who was born in Clayton-le-Moors, lives alone after the death of her husband 12 years ago and has no children.

As well as working in a youth offenders facility, she is also a former dressmaker, shop worker and cafe owner.

She said she still manages to get out to the shops when she catches a dial-a-ride service or when her nieces and nephews come to visit.

She said: “I have lived in this house for 22 years and I have never had problems like I do now.

“They climb the big tree I have, jump on to my garden hut and then into my garden.

“Before damaging my fence panels to get out again and its not right.

“Only last week I had to pay to have the mess cleared up from another broken fence panel and tree branches. There were six bags of rubbish.

“I find it really difficult to find the money to pay for all this out of my pension especially when I have not caused the damage.

“But the worst thing about all this is that my bedroom backs on to the garden and when I hear them on my property it makes me feel really vulnerable.”

The pensioner said the problem had been blighting her life for more than a year.

Coun Charlie Briggs said: “This is absolutely disgusting and thuggish behaviour that I will not accept in Rosegrove or in Burnley.

“i am upset to hear that Burnley youngsters can be so cruel to a 102-year-old woman.

“I will be personally reporting this to Burnley Council’s anti social behaviour team and making sure everything is done to improve this lady’s situation.

“The local police officer should have informed the local councillor so they could have made the necessary steps to help this woman feel safe in her own home.

“I will personally be following this lady’s case.”

Fellow Rosegrove Coun Bea Foster said: “It is always unacceptable for young people to target elderly people.

Anti social behaviour causes real stress and stops elderly people like this 102-year-old lady feeling safe in their own homes.

A spokesman for Age UK Lancashire said: “It’s absolutely terrible that she should be targeted in this way. We would encourage anyone who is being targeted or intimidated to contact the local police.

"We also have an information and advice service where we can offer advice. Many older people in the Burnley area may feel isolated or vulnerable.”

A police spokesman said: “A complaint was made around youngsters at this resident’s house. Our neighbourhood policing officers paid a visit to the resident and we will be keeping in close contact with her.”

Anyone in this situation should contact us on 0300 303 1234 or visit our local office at 24 Keirby Walk as we have a range of support services available.