A GUTSY grandmother used a wooden club to fight off thieves who tried to con their way into her home.

Belfast-born Alice Irwin, 67, even grabbed one of the intruders around the neck after they called at her home in Church pretending to be from the water board.

She said: "I shouted at them, 'Come on. Are you ready for me?' and I started hitting them.

"I think they realised then that they had picked on the wrong person."

Alice, who had previously suffered two heart attacks, said she was 'frightened to death' but said she hoped the incident would inspire other elderly people to defend themselves.

The gang were arrested soon after Mrs Irwin chased them out of her home brandishing an ormanental Irish shillelagh which she had taken off her wall.

Mrs Irwin, who was home alone at the time of the incident, in February, said: "They thought I was an easy target, but I am not soft.

"I grew up in Belfast and I've got five children and 17 great grandchildren. I won't be pushed around.

"I don't think I was brave. I just didn't think about it.

"They were trying to rob me and I was going to defend my home."

At Burnley Crown Court, two of the intruders, James Connors, 18, and William Dear, 26, both of Leeds, were sentenced to 16-month jail terms after admitting the "planned" burglary.

The court heard the pair turned up at Mrs Irwin's home and claimed that they were from the water board and that they needed to look at her supply.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Mrs Irwin was asked by one of the men to run her water and fill a kettle and some pots, and to put her hands on the taps.

Mr Standage said she then turned round and saw another man walking into her property.

Mrs Irwin said: "I knew at this point there was something up. I shouted at them and grabbed one by the neck. It was just my immediate reaction."

Mrs Irwin took the two-foot long ormanental shillelagh off her wall and swung it at all of the men, shouting for them to get out.

She said that her aggressive reaction to the burglary left the men stunned and frozen to the spot.

She ran out of the door and shouted to two neighbours.

Mr Standage said the men ran to a white van not far away, and one of the neighbours phoned police and noted the registration number.

Shortly afterwards police saw the van and there was a chase through Dill Hall Lane, Church.

The vehicle then came to a stop and three men got out and ran away.

The court was told Dear was caught relatively quickly. Connors jumped in the canal and swam the breadth of it in a bid to escape.

That didn't work for him as he was arrested, but it did for an accomplice as he was not detained. Mrs Irwin later picked out Connors on an identity parade.

After the case, a spokesman for Lancashire Trading Standards said: "Distraction burglaries and doorstep crime are a major problem throughout the UK and older people in particular are at risk from bogus callers "It is important that people always ask to see ID of all callers and check it carefully.

"Only let them in when you are absolutely sure that they are genuine, and if you have any doubts keep them out."