A THUG armed with a cosh broke into a 91-year-old man's home and threatened him with a truncheon.

The raider broke into the house on Lowerhouse Lane in Widnes at around 1am on Monday.

The pensioner was in bed when someone came in through the front door, searched the bottom floor and took a cheque book.

He woke up to see the man in the room with him.

There was a struggle and the burglar pushed the old man back onto the bed.

The thug smashed the bedroom light with a brown wooden cosh and threatened the old man - before making off with just £20 and one more cheque book.

The man was described as aged around 30 and of stocky build, around 5ft 10ins tall. He wore white trainers and was covering his face with a while towel.

Anyone with information can call Det Con Mark Spaven on 01244-613733.