A HAVE-A-GO pensioner spoke last night of how she tackled a burglar.

Disabled Doreen Culling, who can only stand with the aid of a walking stick, went on the attack when she saw a yob 60 years her junior emptying her garden shed.

The 82-year-old decided to block the thief's escape as he made his second trip down her garden path, armed with tools taken from her garden shed.

Mrs Culling said: "I wanted my things back. I was blocking his way with my stick. And I pushed him.

"His arms were full of my lawnmower and strimmer. I said 'you have got my things'. He said 'they are mine'. I said 'give me them back; those are my things'. I think he got a shock.''

In a hurry to make his escape, the thief, who is thought to be in his 20s, pushed the pensioner aside. The shock of the encounter triggered an angina attack, but not before battling Mrs Culling managed to press a warden patrol alarm worn as a pendant around her neck.

She added: "I was in a bit of a pickle, as I did not have my (angina) spray with me. I think these alarm buttons are a wonderful idea."

Mrs Culling, who lives in the Stockton area, fears the thief may have hit her, had his arms not been full of her property.

But she said she had the consolation of stopping him making a third trip to her shed and stealing a motorcycle stored there.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said last night: "Mrs Culling showed great presence of mind in confronting this thug and trying to prevent him from taking her property away.

"Not many people of her age would have done what she did, and while we would not encourage members of the public to tackle such criminals, her actions showed great fortitude.''

The thief is of a heavy-set build with closely cropped mid-brown hair and between 5ft and 5ft 5in.

He got into a white van with the words "gardening" and "services" on its sides.

Anyone who can help has been asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.