A WOMAN in her 90s hit a 'cowardly' burglar with her walking stick after he walked into her home late at night and demanded cash.

The unknown man broke her phone so she could not contact police and took her purse, which contained a large amount of cash, and other items, before leaving.

Det Sgt Kenny Clark said: “To target a vulnerable elderly lady in her own home was extremely cowardly. But she was very brave and hit him with her walking stick.

“Thankfully the lady was not physically harmed but she was left very shaken."

He urged people in Holmside Walk, Hebburn Road, Hamsterley Road and Park Drive to check CCTV and motorists to check dashcam footage from around 11.30pm on Saturday.

The burglar was described as a white man in his 20s, who was in black clothing, wearing a black knitted bobble hat and he had a black drawstring bag over his shoulder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police via 101 and quote event number 27535.