A FRAIL, elderly widow confronted a strapping burglar she found wandering around her home after he had stolen several items of jewellery and cash.

Hilda Dawton, 89, who has been seriously ill and recently spent several months in hospital following a stroke, said she was so angry she nearly 'bopped him one'.

Much of the expensive jewellery was of sentimental value given to her by her late husband, who died seven years ago.

Mrs Dawton had been watching television in the lounge of her bungalow in Beercrocombe when she noticed a movement outside the french windows at around 6.30pm on Friday.

She said: "I opened the back door but didn't see anything, so went back to watch the news.

"I saw the movement again and went into the hall, where I saw this man.

"I confronted him. I said, 'Excuse me, do you want something?' I was going to bop him one, but fortunately I didn't.

"With hindsight, maybe I was a bit silly confronting him because he could have knocked me over and done anything. It could have been quite nasty.

"As it was, he brushed past me and left without saying anything."

When Mrs Dawton checked the rest of her home, she discovered every room had been "completely trashed", with drawers tipped out on the floor and cupboards left open.

"It was all a bit off-putting," she said. "I didn't cry or anything like that. I just phoned the police.

"I'm upset and angry and at my age I can do without something like that.

"The stuff has gone. They took quite a lot of jewellery and £200 in cash. It's only material goods - I won't lose any sleep over that.

"But I'm cross because it's sentimental stuff. Rings and necklaces and the like given to me by my husband. Memories I can't replace."

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman confirmed detectives are investigating the burglary.

He said the intruder was described as about 6ft 2in tall and was wearing a dark hat or cap, a white T-shirt and white shorts.

He added: "We'd like to hear from anyone who saw a man matching that description or saw anything suspicious in the area between 6.30pm and 7pm on Friday or who has been offered jewellery for sale."

If you have any information, call police on 101 quoting crime reference number 5218085216.