TWO men have been arrested by detectives hunting raiders who pushed Brierfield pensioner Dorothy Hodgson head-first down the stairs of her home.

The 74-year-old grandmother of two had to have 30 stitches in her lip, chin and head when she said she was shoved down the stairs of her home after confronting two burglars.

Following the incident, which happened just after 12.10am on Monday, detectives launched a manhunt to catch the offenders.

And friends and family of Mrs Hodgson spoke of their shock and disgust at what happened.

Officers raided two homes in Nelson yesterday morning and arrested two men in their early 30s, in connection with the incident.

Last night they were still being quizzed by detectives.

Police said Mrs Hodgson had been released from Burnley General Hospital and her relatives were helping the pensioner.

Detective Inspector Derek Jones, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Dorothy has been released from hospital and with support from her family, she is now recovering from her injuries."

Mrs Hodgson joined Burnley General Hospital in 1945 before becoming a midwife.

She worked at BGH and the former Reedyford hospital for nearly 50 years.

She still volunteers for the St John Ambulance, where she has helped out with first aid expertise for 32 years.

Last year Mrs Hodgson was commended for working 465 hours for the charity, including covering Burnley Football Club home games.

Mrs Hodgson had also worked as a nurse overseas in Israel and met the Pope on a trip to Rome.