THE tale of plucky pensioner, 91-year-old Nellie Duxbury seizing her rolling pin to beat off two con-men bent on robbing her home provokes a mixture of admiration, amusement -- and concern.

For anyone forming a mental picture of a little old lady of such a great age seeing off two villains is bound to smile and be filled with respect for her courage.

But they would also, surely, worry about the risky consequences of any old person living alone resorting to the sort of 'have-a-go ' tactics that Nellie used when con-men called at her Blackburn home.

This time, they fled empty handed. But the fear is that in other cases, they might retaliate and leave with blood on their hands also.

It is surely safer and wiser for old folk to depend on the protection of the police, the law and their neighbours.

It is, of course, often easier said than done -- because many elderly people are either confused or trusting and out of old-fashioned habits often tend to keep money about the house.

And these cowardly scum exploit this by preying on those living alone. They know that most can be easily taken in by their ploys of pretending to be officials from the council or public undertakings and robbing their victims while they are distracted.

That is why they are so despicable -- especially so, when so often they leave some old people so distressed and afraid that they are virtually killed by the experience.

Nellie's encounter is but one in a spate of such crimes in recent weeks across our region. Pensioners have also been targeted elsewhere in Blackburn and in Accrington, Burnley and Pendle.

Wherever possible relatives and neighbours should insist old folk demand identification from strangers. But they also need the fullest protection of the law -- with the courts making plain that every offender can expect no mercy, but only automatic and maximum prison sentences.