DETECTIVES have renewed their appeal for information to help catch a drug-crazed thug who beat a pensioner black and blue.

Great grandmother Annie Fielding was punched in the face, tipped onto the floor and dragged round by her ankles by a thug who broke into her Halliwell home last month.

The 86-year-old woman was left bruised and battered after her attacker escaped with £700 ollowing the robbery just after midnight on August 27.

Just days after her ordeal, Mrs Fielding told the BEN she thought she was going to die as she faced the robber who demanded money so he could buy drugs.

Today a police spokesman put out a new plea for information to catch the attacker. He added: "We would urge anyone with information to contact us, even if they have rung before.

"It's a sad reflection of what's going on that someone will go to these lengths to get something off an elderly victim. We need help to catch the person responsible for this terrible Crime."

Anyone with information should contact Bolton police on 0161 856 5593 or Crimestoppers, quoting crime number 260073Q/00.