A PENSIONER was dragged around her home "like a rag doll" by a burglar.

The intruder held the 78-year-old woman in a head-lock and refused to release her, despite his terrified victim crying out she was struggling to breathe.

He dragged the great-grandmother into several rooms while demanding money.

After searching the rooms, the man threatened to tie up the woman, then fled with £60 from her purse.

Although not seriously injured, the widow, who does not want to be identified, suffered bruising to her neck and arms. She said: "I was absolutely terrified. He threw his arms around my throat and squeezed. I couldn't breathe but he did not care. All he wanted was money. He was violent, dragging me like a rag doll. "

The former papermill worker was clearing cupboards at her bungalow in Westminster Avenue, Radcliffe, on Saturday afternoon at 4.40pm when she heard someone coming through her unlocked front door.

Looking at the reflection in a lounge mirror, she could see a figure standing behind the glass living room door. Believing it was her grandson, she called out his name but got no response.

She said: "When I opened the door this man was standing there. He grabbed my throat and dragged me from room to room, shouting for money. I told him my husband was asleep in bed in the hope that the man would flee. He didn't believe me."

Towards the end of her 20 minute ordeal, the woman was thrown on to the settee as the man rifled through her purse and took her pension money.

"He threatened to tie me up," said the woman who has one son, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. "In the end he used my keys, which were in the front door, to lock me in the house. I saw him running up Westminster Avenue."

The elderly woman escaped through the patio doors and asked a neighbour to call the police.

Detectives say the man is white, in his early 20s, 5ft 5ins tall, slim, with a spotty face. He was wearing a blue baseball cap, a dark green fleece which he had pulled up over his face, blue jeans and dark trainers.

Det Con Mick Yates, of Bury Robbery Unit said: "This was an absolutely awful experience for an old lady on her own to go through. Fortunately she was not seriously injured but has been left traumatised as a result and is now scared of being at home alone.

"In recent weeks the weather has been very hot and it is natural for people to want to open all the windows and doors to let some fresh air in, but we want them to be aware of the security issues this may present.

"I urge residents, particularly the elderly, to keep their front doors locked during the day to prevent this type of offence."

Anyone with information about the incident or who knows the identity of the offender is asked to contact Bury Robbery Unit on 0161 856 6103 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.