The woman, who has not been named, beat him over the head with her WALKING STICK.

This week the town's police praised the pensioner for doing a 'great job' in chasing the would-be robber out of her Knutsford bungalow.

The woman was said to be shocked, but unhurt.

Police believe the incident at 9.30am on Saturday may be linked to a violent attack on an 89-year-old man at his Northwich home just 20 minutes later.

In the Knutsford incident, the man, wearing distinctive John Lennon-style glasses, claimed he was a plain-clothes police officer making inquiries in the area. She refused to let him in, but he pushed past her and began screaming for cash.

The woman stood her ground and chased him out of her bungalow in Warren Avenue.

"It's a disgusting offence," said DC Steve Cantello yesterday (Tuesday).

"She opened the door slightly and was not happy with him straight away, but he weasled his way in anyway."

Detectives are now liaising with their Northwich colleagues to find out if the incident could be linked to Saturday's 'despicable' robbery in Lostock Gralam.

In that incident an 89-year-old man was thrown to the floor by a bogus policeman who claimed he'd spotted a burglar climbing out of his back window.

Detectives are searching for a white man, between 5ft7 and 5ft9 with short dark-coloured hair. Call Macclesfield CID on 01244 613658.

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