SIDMOUTH Home Safeguard users are being urged to wear their pendants at all times after an 88-year-old woman was the victim of a cruel burglary last weekend. Two raiders broke into the woman s Aylesbeare home just after midnight on Saturday and when she t

SIDMOUTH Home Safeguard users are being urged to wear their pendants at all times after an 88-year-old woman was the victim of a cruel burglary last weekend.

Two raiders broke into the woman's Aylesbeare home just after midnight on Saturday and when she tried to confront one of them she was pushed over.

They made off with only a handful of cash but left their vulnerable victim lying on the floor not knowing if she could get any help.

The woman, who is recovering in hospital from the ordeal, is a Home Safeguard user but she was not wearing her pendant alarm at the time of the attack.

The home alarm service, run by East Devon District Council, links vulnerable and elderly people to the outside world and clients have a pull string on the wall as well as the pendant.

Concerned neighbours rang EDDC's Home Safeguard operator after they heard a banging noise from the woman's house.

The operator managed to contact the woman through the speaker system and then rang for the police.

Now EDDC is appealing for other users to carry their personal alarm on them wherever they are.

Jill Elson, EDDC's Portfolio Holder Communities, said: "It appears that the lady at Aylesbeare was not wearing her pendant at the time of this incident. This case underlines the importance of wearing the pendant at all times."

Police are now appealing for information and are particularly interested in any suspicious people or vehicles seen in Aylesbeare on the night in question.

Detective Inspector Bill Pascoe said: "This is a horrible crime that left an elderly lady, who had celebrated her 88th birthday the day before, alone and in what must have been a considerable amount of pain."

One of the men is described as being of heavy build, 5 foot six inches tall and aged in his 30's. He was wearing black gloves and a black plastic type hood which covered his head.

Anyone with information should ring police on 08452 777444 quoting crime reference number K0/09/450 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

* For more information on the Home Safeguard service contact EDDC on (01395) 519739.