THREE women were targeted by violent thugs who tried to rob them in their own homes.

In one case a robber lay in wait for his 66-year-old victim and then attacked her as she let herself into her house.

In the other incident, raiders tricked a woman into opening her front door by pretending to be police officers and then battered her over the head with a wooden stick.

Police are not linking the attacks, which happened over the weekend, but are appealing for information.

The 66-year-old was targeted at around 9pm on Saturday in Fletcher Street, Farnworth. She had been visiting her family and returned home on her mobility scooter.

She went into her back yard, locked the gate behind her then put her scooter in the shed.

As she unlocked her back door, a hooded robber pushed her into the house, pinned the woman against the wall and demanded cash.

She told him she had no money but the raider searched the house, constantly demanding money, before being bitten by the woman's dog. He stole her mobile phone and fled.

The man was white, aged around 30, slim but with a chubby face. He was wearing a black hooded jacket.

The second attack happened on Sunday at around 3.35am at a semi-detached bungalow in Richmond Gardens, Great Lever, where a 71-year-old woman and her 58-year-old friend were staying.

Two robbers tried to sneak into the house through an unlocked front window but were heard by the two woman, who went to the door to ask who was there.The offenders claimed they were police officers and they wanted to come in.

The 58-year-old opened the front door and was battered over the head several times with a wooden stick.

The robbers shouted at the women to give me them money, but the victim managed to shut the door and the two men fled onto Green Lane empty handed.

The woman was taken to hospital with head injuries. She has now been discharged.

The two robbers were white, slim and wearing hooded tops.

Sgt Denise Pye, of Bolton CID's Robbery Unit, said: "These were very nasty attacks on vulnerable women in their own homes.

"If anybody has any information, or thinks they recognise the descriptions, please get in touch with police as soon as possible and help us bring these criminals to justice before anyone else is targeted."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Robbery Unit on 0161 856 5609 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.