POLICE today issued a new appeal for witnesses after a 72-years-old Leigh woman was robbed of £140 by a bearded burglar who threatened to stab her with a kitchen knife as she lay in bed.

The terrified pensioner was threatened by the masked intruder who broke into her terraced house in Glebe Street, on the outskirts of Leigh town centre at 6.30am on Sunday.

The incident happened just 90 minutes after a similar crime committed at the home of a 73-year-old woman in HIndley Green.

Detectives say they are unable to link the offences, despite their similarities.

Det Ch Insp MIke Whiting, of Leigh CID, said the Glebe Street offender, who wore a scarf to mask his face, got in through a downstairs window.

The police chief said: "He disturbed the woman in her bed. She was in total fear of what was going on. He threatened to stab her with the kitchen knife from the woman's kitchen and demanded money. She then gave him £140 from her handbag."

Mr Whiting said: "In the case of the Glebe Street incident, I'd like to speak to anyone who was out and about at that time."

Police have released a description of the thug. He is white, 5ft 10ins tall, thin, unshaven with the start of a goatee beard, and had a dark grey or black scarf around his head. He was wearing a dark grey or black duffle coat.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Leigh CID on 0161-856-7245.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.