DETECTIVES were last night following a number of leads into the horrific assault on 81-year-old pensioner Mary Richardson.

Mrs Richardson, who has terminal liver cancer and Alzheimer's disease, was kicked and punched in her home in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, in the early hours of Friday.

She suffered a fractured skull, broken nose and collarbone, and severe bruising.

Detective Superintendent Steve Wade, who is leading the inquiry, said elderly people in the area had nothing to fear and that it was an isolated incident.

He said: "We have more than 100 officers are working around the clock to catch those responsible and we have a major incident room using the latest technology to help us.

"Several names have been put forward by the public and we will be speaking to them to eliminate them from our inquiries.

"The reality is there has not been any similar type of attack where old ladies have been beaten up in their houses."

Police want to trace a man seen walking across the grassed area at the rear of Mrs Richardson's house, in Stanton Road, at about 4am on Friday.

He was then seen to climb a 6ft fence nearby.

He was about 6ft, thick-set and slightly overweight, and wore a black woollen hat, a waist-length navy-blue anorak, dark trousers and white trainers.

Witnesses are asked to call their local police station.