A BENTHAM woman has spoken of her shock and anger after intruders pushed her to the ground during an aggravated burglary.

Liz Swarbrick was left with bruising to her hip and shoulder after one of the raiders who had broken into her Grasmere Drive home slammed her into a stone kitchen wall and then onto the floor.

The burglars left with her engagement ring, Christmas presents and a series of other valuables The mother-of-three said she was awoken by her dog Butch who wanted to go outside at 5.40am.

Her partner Tracy Cockerton had just left to go to work at Angus Fire .

She came downstairs and saw a man running out of a back room. "He pushed me into the wall and said: 'Don't do anything stupid' because I tried to grab his leg," said Ms Swarbrick. "He ran down the alley and I heard him shout: 'Get the van going'. I was just glad the kids were away."

The burglars were seen escaping in a dark coloured van, a bit smaller than a Transit van. "It just makes me really angry," said Ms Swarbrick, "It could have been someone local who knows what shifts we work.”

She added that she has been finding it hard to sleep at night as she no longer feels safe. Police are hunting for the intruders.

One of them is described as white, of skinny build, about 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, aged between 18 and 25 years, with short dark hair and was wearing dark clothing. He had a local North Yorkshire accent. The second burglar was unseen.

Stolen from the premises was a silver and black Seiko gents watch, a black Tom Tom Go Sat Nav and some clothing, a wallet and belt branded ‘Police’.

Some distinctive jewellery was also stolen including two silver Pandora bracelets. Anyone with information should call 101 and ask PC Barbara Parsons at Ingleton Police Station.