THESE are the horrific injuries a Brierfield pensioner suffered when she was shoved head-first down her stairs after disturbing burglars.

And the community where Dorothy Hodgson lives today spoke of their anger at the incident.

The 74-year-old gran had to have 30 stitches in her lip, chin and head after the raid at about 12.10am on Monday.

As detectives today stepped up their manhunt for the offenders which Mrs Hodgson's family have branded as "evil".

Her daughter Jane Hyde, 49, who lives in Rochdale, said she hoped her mother would fully recover.

She said: "It was a particularly vicious, cruel act by the people who did this and I am shocked that they could attack a defenceless and elderly woman in her own home.

"I feel angry and I hope they are made to understand what effect they have had on an elderly woman and her family.

"More and more people think they can do things like this. Respect seems to be a dirty word nowadays.

"I think the community would like these people caught, not just her family."

Mrs Hodgson's other daughter, Kathryn Nixon, 48, of Barden Lane, Burnley, added: "I think they must be totally evil to do what they did because they left her for dead."

Mrs Hodgson, a nurse and midwife at Burnley General and Reedyford hospital for nearly 50 years and a St John Ambulance volunteer, was confronted by two men in their 20s when she went to investigate a noise upstairs. In the struggle they pushed her down the steps.

Det Insp Derek Jones said the attack was unnecessary because the offenders could have escaped anyway.

He added: "This is a lady who has dedicated her life to helping others, that's what she gets pleasure from. These people had no care for her at all.

"Anybody who sees the pictures could not help but be moved. This was a callous act and I would urge anybody with any information to contact us."

Neighbour Susan Baldwin, 45, said: "It is disgusting that somebody could do something like that to anybody, never mind an elderly lady."

Anybody with information should contact Nelson CID on 01282 472643 or Crimestoppers, where they could be eligible for a reward, on 0800 555 111.