AN elderly Morecambe couple who were threatened with a knife and beaten by two robbers in their own home told the Citizen of their terror this week.

The couple, who are both in their 80s, were watching television in the front room of their Hampton Road home on Saturday night when they heard something in the kitchen.

The elderly gentleman, Harold, looked round from his chair and saw two masked men, one with a truncheon, bearing down on him. He tried to stand up but one of the thugs, screaming and swearing, battered him down with the truncheon and then held a knife to his throat.

The victim's wife Marie was then punched full in the face for screaming.

The robbers began to make a careful search of the house - but at that point the brave couple scrambled to safety out the back. They struggled their way to the nearby chip shop and neighbours' houses but by the time they returned the thugs had gone with their £170 savings.

The couple explained they did not wish to release their full names but Harold said: "We were very frightened as you can imagine. We told them we had no money and just had our pension but they beat us. We have been in a state of shock ever since. We haven't slept for three nights."

The couple went on to express their thanks to all their family, neighbours and friends who had rallied round. They were also eager to thank the pupils and teachers from the nearby Sandylands Primary School who had made cards for the pensioners.

A police spokesman appealed for information.

He commented: "This was a frightening attack on two vulnerable members of our community. To anyone who saw anything suspicious at all please call us as soon as possible."

One of the thugs was about six feet and aged between 28 and 30. He had a long thin face, dark unkempt hair and stubble. He wore a dark jacket and trousers and spoke with a local accent.

The other was aged between 35 and 40, about five feet ten inches, stocky with dark receding hair.

Police are trying to trace the owner of a white transit van seen parked on nearby Westminster Road to eliminate him from their enquiries.

Anyone with any information should call Morecambe CID on 63333.

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