A PARTIALLY sighted pensioner whose home was mistakenly invaded by police in riot gear told of her nightmare this week.

The woman from Morecambe's Albert Road said she fully supported the police drug and stolen property raids in last week's Operation Herring operation.

But the 67-year-old disabled woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she has suffered nightmares, needs counselling and can't sleep - her whole behaviour has changed.

"I was never a nervous person before," she said, "but now I sleep with the light on which I never even did as a child. I always have the same nightmare. It's seeing their shapes with helmets on lying on the floor and standing up. They shouted at me 'stand still, stand still.' I can't really describe it to you but it was the biggest scare of my life.

"It's nothing like when you see it on the television screen".

"I was lucky because I managed to get the door on time. My neighbour, Tom, didn't get there because he was putting his false leg on and they knocked the door off its hinges. He was really bad, probably worse than me. He's hardly been back home since. They told him to put his hands on his head and he was wobbling all over.

"The doctor came and I'm to have counselling. I'm glad because it's really annoying not being like I was before. I can't stand the noise now. I just want to get out of here and to a bungalow on my own. My heart just wouldn't stand it next time."

She said since the mistake the police have been "brilliant" and that Lancaster's Divisional Commander, John Thompson, had been to apologise. But she was critical of North British Housing Association who own the flats arguing they should be careful about who was allowed into the flats.

Area director of North British Housing revealed an officer had been round to meet her yesterday (Wednesday). He added that the flats were for general needs people - not just the disabled and that tenants had to produce references from former landlords.

ANOTHER 20 people were arrested last Thursday as a result of Operation Herring. This time the raids were on the Marsh area of Lancaster. That brought the total number of arrests to more than 60 over a three-day period.

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