A FEISTY pensioner saw off a burglar creeping into her home by bashing him with her handbag.

The man leapt out of a window after being confronted by the woman and Essex Police have praised her bravery.

The raider broke into the house in Kennel Lane, Billericay, by forcing open a rear window.

He ransacked the home before sneaking in to the living room where he disturbed the 84-year-old.

She confronted him and hit him with her handbag. He then ran to the back of the house and jumped out of the window.

PC JonMcDonald said: “Thanks to the bravery of this lady this man failed to escape with anything of value.

“To discover an intruder in her home was an extremely frightening experience for her and I cannot praise her enough for the way she responded. We would like very much to apprehend this individual to prevent him from putting anyone else through such an experience and I would urge anyone who thinks they recognise him to call me immediately at Basildon Police Station on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.”

The burglar was white, aged 30 to 40, and 5ft 8in tall.

He was wearing a dark blue or black jumper, with dark trousers and spoke with an Irish accent.

The attack happened on November 11.