Man held after woman, 88, suffers 'brutal' assault in house raid

Police investigating what they described as a brutal assault on a pensioner in her home have arrested a man.

The 88-year-old woman was asleep in bed at her home in Chorley, Lancashire, when she was woken at around 12.30am on Saturday to find a man assaulting her and demanding money.

The attacker pulled her from the bed and the assault continued. He also ransacked the house in Aspen Gardens before making off.

Police said a 35-year-old man from Chorley had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

Detective Inspector Warren Atkinson of Lancashire Police said: "I would like to thank the public for their incredible response to our appeal for information following this incident.

"As a result of their help and through police inquiries we now have a man in custody and he will be questioned in due course."

Earlier, police said the victim managed to crawl to a neighbour's house and the alarm was raised.

The pensioner was taken to Wigan Hosptial where she is being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 0055 of Saturday August 26, or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.