Police arrested two men this afternoon they suspect brutally attacked a 95-year-old woman in her home on Wednesday morning.

The men, who were arrested in the Newham area are in custody at an East London police station.

Doris Marr was attacked as she lay in bed at her Pickering Avenue home in East Ham, yesterday.

The elderly woman was woken about 1am by a male searching through her wardrobe. When she asked him what he was doing, he punched her several times in the face.

He continued to search the flat but when he heard the elderly woman call out, he returned and hit her again, before fleeing.

Police were unsure if anything had been taken.

It appeared the intruder had entered the first floor flat by kicking in the bottom half of the front door, police said.

Mrs Marr's attacker is described as a white male aged in his twenties. He was about 5ft 9" tall and of medium build with short brown hair. At the time of the attack he was wearing white trousers, a white hooded top and white trainers.

Detective Constable Dave Mothersole said it was a "cruel and brutal attack on a woman who was utterly defenceless

It was likely someone had heard the front door of Mrs Marr's flat being kicked in, he said.

Anyone with information can was advised to contact crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

October 10, 2002 15:30