A 74-YEAR-OLD man from Leigh is recovering in hospital after he was attacked by a burglar.

The pensioner was watching television at his house in Mosley Common last Thursday when he answered a knock at his door.

A man pushed his way into the pensioner's home, causing the victim to fall to the floor, searched the house and ran off empty-handed. The pensioner suffered head injuries and a broken hip.

He was taken to Hope Hospital, Salford, where he is in a stable condition.

Detectives are hoping to interview him further in the next few days.

The attacker is described as white, well built, aged between 25 and 30, 5ft 6in tall, clean shaven with short, cropped dark hair and a local accent.

He was wearing a dark jumper with horizontal white stripes, dark trousers and was carrying a white plastic bag.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area is asked to contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7249.