A PENSIONER was tied up and robbed after she opened her front door to two teenage carol singers.

The youths bundled the terrified 66-year-old woman inside her home and overpowered her.They trussed her up with scarves and then stole jewellery and cash.

The elderly woman -- who was left tied-up for more than an hour at her detached bungalow home in Winton Grove, Ladybridge -- eventually managed to struggle free from her bonds and raise the alarm. And today, as the pensioner was recovering at home, detectives hunting the two thieves condemned the crime.

Det Chief Insp John Piekos of Bolton CID said: "This is a most despicable abuse of our nation's Christmas values.

"Pretending to be carol singers to get into the lady's house plumbs new depths. My resolution is to see these offenders locked up behind bars for Christmas.

"Perhaps the community could deliver some festive cheer to this victim by giving us enough information to help us catch them."

The woman -- whose husband was at work -- was robbed between 8.15pm and 9.15pm last night after she heard a knock at the front door.

She could hear one of the youths singing carols outside and answered the door.

But as she unfastened the lock she was pushed back inside.

The youths forced her into a back room and tied her up while they searched the bungalow. The thieves are believed to be between 16 and 18-years-old. They were wearing cream-coloured tracksuits and dark blue caps.

One of the youths, who was about 5ft 1in tall, was white and had sharp features, a limp and a local accent. He went by the name of "Steve". The other youth, who was about 6ft tall, was also white. He was wearing a green scarf over his face.

Bogus carol

singers