A brave pensioner fought off a gang of hooded robbers with a walking stick after they attacked her husband and rampaged through the couple's South Woodford home.

The plucky 65-year-old took matters into her own hands after the men attacked her husband while he was loading their car outside their Hermitage Walk home around 4.40am on Friday.

Despite her courageous actions, which caused them to flee the house, the robbers made off in the couple's two cars with contents worth around £34,000.

The woman's husband was placing suitcases into the boot when he was approached by the gang of six men, one of whom grabbed him from behind, threw him to the ground and grabbed his car keys.

He was left with a cut to his lip which later required stitches in hospital, and he also suffered injuries to his left knee.

Some of the robbers then broke away and stormed into the house, but their plan backfired when the man's wife retaliated and hit them with her walking stick.

A Redbridge police spokesman said: "The man's wife disturbed them after they went inside and hit them with her walking stick. It seemed to scare them and they ran out of the house.

"The lady saw her husband lying on the ground outside and thought they were going to reverse the car over him but they stopped and allowed him to get up before they sped off in both of the cars."

He added: "The woman was very courageous in challenging these people. It's not something I'd encourage because you never know whether they are the only people in the gang and whether or not they will retaliate."

The gang made off with a beige Mercedes C240 worth £10,000, which was later recovered and taken for forensic tests, a silver Toyota Corolla worth £8,000

and £10,000 worth of men's and women's clothing.

Their haul also included a camera and binoculars, worth around £6,000, which were inside the suitcases.

All six attackers were described as black and were wearing dark clothing with hoods.

Police are appealing for any information. Any witnesses should ring Detective Constable Chibi Nwosu at the burglary and robbery squad at Ilford on 8345 2710.

An attempted burglary which occurred two days earlier in Woodford Green also involved a gang of six black men wearing dark clothing.

A man was awoken in his Brackley Square home around 2.50am last Wednesday by the sound of someone trying to smash their way through his front door.

He ran downstairs and saw a figure the other side of the door trying to break in. Luckily, the door was fitted with a safety chain which prevented the would-be intruder from entering, but £200 worth of damage was caused.

Police are not ruling out that the two incidents could be linked.

A police spokesman said: "A neighbour was also woken up by the noise and saw a group of black men outside wearing dark Puffa jackets. They all ran off."

Officers want to hear from any witnesses who may have seen the gang.

Anyone with information should contact the Ilford crime desk on 8345 2745.

May 29, 2003 14:30