A GANG-of-four pushed a grandmother-of-nine to the floor and repeatedly kicked her in the stomach.

Widow Christine Stephens, 54, was left lying in an alleyway after the mugging which left her needing hospital treatment.

The former cleaner, who suffered a stroke two years ago and also has angina, said she feared the stress of the attack could make her ill again.

Mrs Stephens was walking in Nottingham Street, in Audley, Blackburn, when she was approached from behind by the men who demanded cash.

She said: “I was absolutely terrified.

“I heard them behind me and I had a gut feeling they were going to do something.

“It was dark. There is a lamp there, but it was not lit. I was really frightened.

“I have no idea why somebody would do this.”

Mrs Stephens, of Aberdeen Drive, Blackburn, said she was moving house when the attack happened at around 9pm on Friday.

When the men realised she had no money on her, they pushed her over and began kicking her.

The mother-of-two, whose husband Rodney died eight years ago, said: “I felt very scared. After it happened, I was in a lot of pain.

“I was moving from one house to a flat and I went up to get some stuff.

“I remembered I gave the keys to my grandson so he could get in for his tea, so I went up to his house.

“The men came up behind me and asked me for my money. I told them I did not have any.

“One of them snatched my bag, which had my medication in, from me and he searched it.

“He could not find what he was after so he pushed me to the floor. He kicked me, then the other three came round.

“Two more kicked me and then the other one tried, but he missed. Then they all ran off.”

After picking herself up, Mrs Stephens walked to Pringle Street, where she found her granddaughter.

She was then taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for checks, where she was told she had suffered damage to the tissue on her abdomen.

Mrs Stephens, who is waiting to have an operation to put a stent in her heart, said: “I thought it was my fault because of the way it happened.

“My daughter Sharon was really mad and upset.”

The men were described as Asian and in their teens and 20s.

Det Insp Mark Vaughton said: “Mrs Stephens was approached by four men as she was walking on her own.

“She became a victim for no apparent reason.

“Fortunately, she has no significant injuries, but she is very shaken.

“I would appeal for anybody with information about the attack to come forward.”

Anybody with details should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.