ONE of Bolton's leading clergymen has condemned two teenagers who posed as Christmas carol singers to rob a pensioner.

Canon Michael Williams, the Vicar of Bolton, described the thieves as despicable and wicked.

As reported in yesterday's late edition of the Bolton Evening News, the 66-year-old woman was tied up and robbed when she opened her front door to the singing teenagers in Ladybridge on Wednesday night.

The youths burst into her detached bungalow in Winton Grove and tied her up with scarves before taking jewellery and cash.

Canon Williams said: "To have used the ploy of singing carols in God's name to gain entry to the house makes what is already a terrible Crime even more wicked.

"It is not something that just spoils the Christmas spirit, it destroys it. All we can do is hope and pray that the victim finds the courage and strength to overcome her ordeal."

The pensioner, whose husband was at work at the time, managed to struggle free after an hour and called the police. She was uninjured but was left shaken by her ordeal which happened between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on Wednesday.

The thieves were aged between 16 and 18. They were wearing cream-coloured tracksuits and dark blue caps. One youth, who was about 5ft 1in tall, had a limp and went by the name of Steve. The other youth, who was about 6ft tall, was wearing a green scarf over his face.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bolton CID on 0161 856 5640 or Crimestoppers on free phone 0800 555111.

"It will take her a long time to get over what happened, if she ever does.

This was a despicable and wicked act.

"If someone approaches you in such a way, it is the ultimate betrayal.