MURDER squad detectives believe a sneak thief being hunted in connection with the death of a frail pensioner may have been responsible for a spate of burglaries targeting other elderly Bolton homeowners.

Phyllis Mayoh, aged 88, died three days after she was attacked in her own home by a burglar who stole just £30. The pensioner -- just 4ft 10ins tall and weighing a mere six stone -- was washing up in the kitchen of her home in Rosamond Street, Daubhill, when she was confronted by the thief.

The terrified widow was pushed to the floor -- breaking her hip -- and then picked up and dragged through to the living room where she was thrown on a bed. The man then stole her purse.

Mrs Mayoh underwent surgery at the Royal Bolton Hospital to repair her broken hip but died hours later with her family at her bedside.

Her death has stunned her friends, family and neighbours in the quiet street where she had lived all her life.

The attack happened last Sunday at 5.30pm as Mrs Mayoh was cleaning up in the kitchen.

She walked into the living room, which doubled as her bedroom, and spotted a white man, aged around 17 or 18 years old, of very slim build, around 6ft and with neatly cut mousy coloured hair. He was wearing a dark jacket and denim jeans.

The teenager pushed Mrs Mayoh to the floor, injuring her hip, before demanding money.

Despite being threatened the pensioner managed to pull a 'Careline' emergency help cord she had in the room, which sounded an alarm. The attacker then fled taking her purse.

She was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and underwent surgery for a full hip replacement, but died in the Intensive Care Unit three hours later.

A post mortem examination revealed she died due to operative procedures required as a result of the attack.

The incident has stunned elderly neighbours in the street where Mrs Mayoh had lived all her life.

The pensioner was born in Bolton on 24th August 1914 moved into her mid-terrace house from her family home just a few doors away in 1940, when she married her husband Andrew. She had lived alone since she was widowed 38 years ago and worked in the cotton trade, but after an accident at work, became a dinner lady at Pilkington Street Kitchens, where she worked for 25 years before she retired.

She was a regular churchgoer, visiting the Nazarene Church on South End Street every Wednesday and Sunday.

Anyone who believes they can help police is asked to contact the incident room at Bolton's Castle Street Police Station on 0161 856 5961 or Crimestoppers on free phone 0800 555 111.

Mrs Mayoh had one son, Roy, who lives in Cheshire, and a 23 year old granddaughter, Emma, who is currently in Australia. She also had family nearby, particularly a nephew John Hartshorne and his wife Elaine, who helped look after her on a day-to-day basis.

The offender is believed to have entered the house through the front door,

which opens straight onto the street.

Officers last night conducted door-to-door enquiries in the area as forensic officers continued their search for any evidence the attacker may have left behind.

The man leading the hunt, Det Supt Simon Barraclough from the Force Major Incident Team, said: "Phyllis was a very elderly lady and her limited mobility meant she would

be no match for any intruder.

"Due to her trusting nature, despite protests from her family, she regularly left her front door unlocked and on this occasion her trust of other people, contributed to her death.

"We managed to interview Phyllis before she went for surgery and although in a great deal of pain, she managed to help us put together a description of the man who hurt her and stole her money.

"The man who has done this needs to contact us immediately."

Mrs Mayoh's son Roy, said his mother loved her family.

He said: "Her favourite hobby was bossing us all about. Even as she got older and became physically less able, she was still as sharp as a button and the central hub for all of us.

"She had lived on Rosamond Street all her life and everyone knew her including many of the local council, referring to her affectionately as Auntie Phyllis.

"Every year she went on holiday to Blackpool and planned to go again in five weeks time, she'd been talking about it for weeks, waiting for that and for her granddaughter to come home from Australia."

He said that he could not understand why thief attacked her adding: "She was only 4ft 10ins tall and weighed six stone. Why did he have to push her? "

Anyone who believes they can help police is asked to contact the incident room at Bolton's Castle Street Police Station on 0161 856 5961 or Crimestoppers on free phone 0800 555 111.