A 79-year-old Darwen woman has spoken of her distress after her home was burgled on Christmas Day.

Betty Stocks said she is still struggling to come to terms with the raid.

She was one of several victims in a Christmas mini-crimewave in the town.

"Things seem to be getting worse, not better," said Betty, who lives alone in Ellison Fold Terrace.

At the time of the raid she was staying at her daughter's home.

"A lady who lives near me was mugged a couple of weeks ago and I was thinking how lucky I was for that not to happen to me. This just goes to show that no-one -- nor their property -- is safe." The raiders escaped with a television and video recorder and a small amount of jewellery. The TV and video were later recovered nearby.

"It makes you wonder 'what was the point?'," said Betty, who has since had a wrought iron security gate fitted outside her back door. "It seems that all they have achieved is causing me a great deal of distress."

Betty believes the raiders struck while neighbours were having a party, so that no-one would heard the sound of breaking glass.

" It is an awful feeling that someone has been in your house rooting through your private property and I wonder if these people stop to think about the heartache they cause," said Betty,

Betty said she was grateful to family and friends who rallied round to tidy her house before she returned home on Boxing day.

And there was little festive cheer for other Darwen folk, after several break-ins and thefts, particularly at elderly people's homes.

On Boxing Day a youth called at an 81-year-old woman's home, in Ellen Street, at 7pm and told the woman he had kicked a football into her yard.

When she invited him inside he distracted the woman and stole her handbag and purse, along with rosary beads, a crucifix and a ring.

DS Ian Critchley of Darwen CID said a short time later the youth was seen with the woman's belongings close to the Bowling Green Hotel, in Bolton Road. He is white, 5ft 10ins tall, aged around 16, with short mousy hair, and was wearing a fleece jacket.

DS Critchley said the incident was being investigated together with a similar theft in Harwood Street a few weeks earlier. He said: "We wish to renew our warning -- particularly to older people -- not to let strangers in, even if they do look young and innocent. Close your door and ring a friend or relative and make sure the door is locked."

And burglars caused misery at other homes. Sixty PlayStation games and a gold and ruby ring valued at £580 were taken from a house in Alice Street between Christmas Day and December 27.

And a video worth £100 was stolen from a house in Primrose Terrace between Christmas Day evening and Boxing Day. A Nintendo 64 was in the £122 haul taken from a house in Harwood Street between noon and 7pm on Boxing Day. And there were several attempted break-ins.On Shelley Grove between Christmas Day and December 27 burglars attempted to prise a loose panel of a window.

On Rydal Avenue between 8.30am and 6.30pm on Thursday would-be thieves took a garden fork out of a shed to try force a door but failed.

And on Redearth Road between Christmas Day and Boxing Day a flower pot was thrown at the pane of a house before the would- be intruders made off.

DS Critchley said: "We have had seven or eight burglaries since Christmas Day and vulnerable people, in particular the elderly, have been targeted. These criminals are preying on people's vulnerability." Anyone with information should call Darwen CID on 353841.