A GRANDMOTHER claims her family have suffered weeks of intimidation -- because they are Canadian.

Joan Williams believes her family has suffered physical and verbal abuse from people living in the Higher Folds area of Leigh because of her nationality.

And she says intimidation has forced her to become a prisoner in her own home.

The 69-year-old, of Crown Grove, was born in Wales but moved to Canada where she lived for nearly 40 years. She returned two years ago to settle in Leigh -- but since then she claims their lives have been made a misery.

She said assaults on her daughter and grandson are being investigated by police. And she claims her home was daubed with paint, and she has been pelted with stones.

Now she wants to take her family back to Canada, but she cannot afford the airfare to go home.

Joan told the Journal: "It's been absolutely horrendous. It was always my husband's dream to return to Britain. He died in 2000, but when my daughter got a job in the UK we moved over. We have become prisoners in our own home, we can't go out without being taunted and sworn at about our nationality or being pelted with stones.

"The police have been wonderful, PC Westwell has always been there to help. I just can't believe people can be like this. I really want to go home to Canada, I'm proud of my British roots but this is not home."

Leigh Community Beat Officer PC Andy Westwell said two incidents of assault were under investigation -- and meetings are being held with tenancy relations and housing chiefs in a bid to resolve the situation.

PC Westwell said: "On a number of occasions Mrs Williams has called to complain and we are trying to sort out the situation. Mrs Williams hasn't given us any indication that the incidents are caused because she is Canadian."