A MASKED attacker smashed his way into a 92-year-old York woman's home and robbed her - only hours after she had been targeted by a bag snatcher.

The ordeal began when the pensioner, named by neighbours as Gertrude Wedgwood, answered a knock at the door of her home, off Front Street, Acomb.

It happened on the same day that the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, visited York to talk tough on crime.

He praised the Evening Press- launched Ratcatcher crime-fighting campaign, in which the public can give anonymous information on criminals.

Insp Colin Morton, of York Police, said the masked man used force to break the security chain on the woman's door, then pushed his way into her living room.

He said: "The elderly lady was knocked to the floor and her pension money was demanded."

Insp Morton said a brown purse containing £29 was taken by the attacker, who is described as being of thin build, with a thin face. He was wearing a grey jacket and a balaclava.

He revealed that police believe the robbery may have been linked to the earlier attack on Ms Wedgwood.

Insp Morton said she was just returning home from shopping when her fawn-coloured shopping bag containing her pension book and library books was stolen by a man, who was said to be wearing blue clothing, including a baseball cap, and had a cycle.

A neighbour described Ms Wedgwood as "very feisty". She had lived in her home for more than 70 years.

She said Ms Wedgwood's home had recently been targeted by youths who had thrown eggs at the windows and broken a fence.

Commenting on the first attack, the neighbour said: "She told me when she got home a voice from nowhere said: 'You won't be needing that, will you', then the bag was snatched from her arms."

Mike Avey, sub-postmaster at Acomb, said another pensioner had her bag snatched last week after drawing her pension. "It is terrible," he said.

Det Sgt Nigel Costello, leading the investigation, said the victim was "very badly shaken", but not seriously injured.

He said: "But at that age there is the enormous stress and trauma an incident like this causes."

Anyone with information should contact police on 01904 631621 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Updated: 10:42 Friday, October 31, 2003