AN 82-year-old woman has suffered injuries after two burglars broke into her home and held her down on a bed.

She was in her back garden, in Steamer Point, Malvern, when the two males targeted her.

They then forced the woman into her bungalow and one of the burglars covered her mouth with his hand, while the other male searched the property.

The woman, who is thought to be Chinese, was pinned to the bed during the search.

She was able to end the ordeal by running into the garden and screaming for help, after being allowed to use the toilet.

Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy in relation to the incident, which happened at about 3.30pm on Thursday, June 1.

Brenda Rose, a neighbour, said: “I was parking my car outside and I noticed her arm was bleeding.

“I found her very disorientated, she didn’t know what she was doing. She ran up to me screaming. I took her to hospital as any good neighbour would do.

“I waited until her grandson came to the hospital. She lives on her own. She’s been here for seven or eight years.”

The victim suffered bruising to her right arm and her left arm was bandaged.

Cally Law, aged 69, of Bawdsey Avenue, Malvern, said: “She’s a really nice gentle and vulnerable woman. She’s small, old and can’t speak the language.

“She tends to walk in the early morning around the area. I’ve only ever seen her out while I’m walking the dog.

“She smiles and we converse as best we can.”

John Lloyd, aged 81, who lives next door to the victim, said: “I get on well with the old lady.

“She’s always out in her garden watering her plants. Her grandson told me what happened.

“I had four coppers in here last night. They took a lot of stuff away from there, it was all in bags.

“I think these men [the burglars] are cowards and swine.”

Another neighbour thinks the burglars used her plant pot to get over the wall as she noticed it had been moved after the incident.

The burglars fled the scene by climbing over the garden wall after the resident sounded the alarm by screaming.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting incident number 0550s/010617.