A pensioner's final words may help catch the assailants who left her huddling in terror for 24 hours following an attack.

Kathleen Roberts barricaded herself in a utility room after confronting youths who broke into her Stockton home on Tuesday.

But the 86-year-old widow managed to talk to her nephew, Paul Connor, 46, from her bed at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, shortly before she died yesterday morning.

Mrs Roberts said she had discovered "two boys" in her house and they had "hurt her head".

As police investigated the circumstances behind Mrs Roberts' death, friends and family paid tribute to the grandmother.

"When she managed to speak briefly to her nephew the other night, we felt confident she was fighting back and would eventually be able to come out of the trauma she has been in," said a Cleveland Police spokesman.

"Her death came as a complete shock to the investigation team and, although the case continues unabated, our thoughts are with her family."

Mrs Roberts' eldest nephew, who is from Dorset and asked not to be named, said yesterday that all her family, including a daughter in Hull and a son in Tasmania, had been told of the news and were travelling to the area.

He described his aunt as a "brilliant, brilliant woman who would do anything for anyone," adding: "I just couldn't believe it."

Neighbour Carol Beard was with Mr Connor when they found Mrs Roberts cowering under garden tools and shoes at about 8pm on Tuesday.

"She was gorgeous," said Mrs Beard."She was a bit deaf, but if you shouted she could hear you. She was as fit as you and me."

Mrs Beard relived how she found the pensioner huddled on the floor after Mr Connor became anxious when she failed to telephone him as planned.

She said: "Her nephew came round and couldn't get in the front door. We have a key for her back door and he came knocking on the door and said, 'I can't get in'. As we looked through the windows, he said 'I think she's been burgled'. She was just lying there."

Speaking about the intruders, Mrs Beard said: "I think they're scum. It's absolutely shocking."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I called the hospital earlier and they said she seemed alright, so I couldn't believe this news.

"When Mrs Roberts was younger and a bit fitter, she was always doing things for charity.

"She would go to Lourdes once a year to help with the disabled people there.

"She was a very popular woman. Sometimes she would talk outside the house, she would reminisce about the old days, talk about the war, things like that."

And another neighbour a few doors down from Mrs Roberts' Rudyard Avenue home in Roseworth, Stockton, expressed her shock and sadness at the death.

"She was just the kind of person who would do anything for you. I hope the people who caused this get caught."

While another said: "I only saw her on Monday morning - it was out in the street in front of her house. We passed the time of day and had a chat about the weather. It's hard to believe this has happened.

"She really was a very, very pleasant woman - a lovely lady."

The man, who is in his seventies, said several residents on the street had suffered attacks on their property by gangs of youths.

He said: "They congregate on the field behind the school opposite to drink alcohol in the evening. Some of them come over here and throw bricks and stones at the windows."

Mrs Roberts, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every day at the nearby St Peter and Paul Church, in Roseworth, where Father Shaun O'Neill held prayers for her yesterday.

He said: "She was lovely. She would pray for anyone. The words I would use are humble and gentle and lovely. A lot of people said that it did not seem fair that her end should be like this.

"She would do anything for you and will be greatly missed."

Police are expected to announce the results of a post-mortem examination this morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police on (01642) 302226.