POLICE remain determined to find the burglar responsible for fatally attacking an elderly woman in her home in Daubhill 18 years ago.

Phyllis Mayoh, 88, was assaulted by a thug at her home on Rosamond Street on April 13, 2003, which fell on a bright and sunny Easter Sunday.

A white male in his late teens, around 6ft tall and of a very slim build with neatly cut mousey-coloured hair, burst into her home while she was washing up.

The yob, who was wearing a dark top, denim jeans and dirty white trainers, threw the frail pensioner to the floor and stole her purse before leaving.

He fled when she pulled an emergency cord, which alerted care staff.

The burglar escaped with just £30.

Mrs Mayoh was left lying on the floor with a broken hip and died in hospital three days later after undergoing an operation.

A murder investigation was launched and her purse was found in undergrowth a mile away on Platt Hill Avenue in Deane. But no forensic evidence was found.

In the five years that followed, officers conducted 700 interviews, made extensive searches in and around Mrs Mayoh’s home and viewed hours of CCTV video tape.

A forensic review was carried out several years ago too but no new leads have been found.

Police will not stop until they find Mrs Mayoh’s killer though.

Det Sgt Clare Smith, from Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Cold Case Unit, said: “This case will never be closed until it is solved and we are appealing for someone to come forward with information about it.

“It was an attack on a very vulnerable lady in her own home.

“Somebody came in and scared her, it must have been terrifying for her at that moment.

“The person only stole £30 which cost the woman her life.

“Allegiances change over the years and I would urge anyone who knows what happened to contact us.

“We are offering £50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction.”

Mrs Mayoh, a former mill worker and widow of 35 years, was known as 'Auntie Phyllis' to people who knew her in Daubhill.

If you have any information contact GMP’s Cold Case Unit on 0161 856 5978.