A PENSIONER today told of the moment she feared she was going to be murdered in her home by three intruders.

The 70-year-old woman, of Kinross Close, Audley, Blackburn, said she was left shaking in fear after being thrown into an armchair and held down by one of the would-be robbers.

When she screamed for help, she was told: "Shut up and tell us where the money is".

He then put his hand over her mouth and nose, leaving her struggling to breath in a further bid to intimidate her into handing over cash.

The woman had just made a cup of tea after returning from walking her dog when the men burst into her ground floor flat in at 3.10pm on Thursday.

She said: "They all charged in.

"The big one grabbed hold of me and shoved me in the armchair.

"He held me down. I was kicking him. I was shaking and I was frightened. I was screaming.

"I thought he was going to kill me."

While she was being intimidated, the other two would-be robbers had disconnected her phone line, locked her dog in the kitchen and were rifling through other rooms looking for something to steal.

At this point police believe the men may have been disturbed by something as they fled the ground floor flat empty handed.

The woman tried to give chase, but lost them as they jumped a brick wall and headed towards Audley Community and Sports Centre.

Detective Sergeant Mick Cross said: "It was a terrible attack. She was struggling to breath and left in fear for her life.

"She seems to have been very plucky in chasing them. She has been traumatised by the incident and it will be sometime before she recovers from the ordeal.

"Thankfully this type of incident is very rare and we would like to reassure the public that there is a team of detectives investigating the incident to find the three men responsible."

The first man was described as white, in his 30s, 5ft 8in, with black hair and was overweight. He was wearing a tracksuit and a black waist-length jacket.

She described the second man as white, in his late 20s, 5ft4in with short black hair, wearing black jeans and a waist-length jacket.

The last man was said to be white, in his 20s, with short ginger hair, 5ft7in and wearing black jeans and jacket.

Anyone with information should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.