VANDALS attacked the home of a popular Barnoldswick pensioner, smashing a window inches from where she was sleeping.

Katie Widdup, who celebrated her 96th birthday on Wednesday, has lived in the town all her life.

She receives dozens of visitors at her Walmsgate home every day and greets residents with a wave as they pass.

The attack on her house - the second in a year - has been branded "disgusting" by outraged locals.

Mrs Widdup did not call for help after the incident, which happened just after midnight on Friday, but spent the night huddled in an armchair until her only daughter called round the following day.

She said: "When it first happened there was silence, then I just heard talking. It was so cold. I sat up in the armchair all night and couldn't go back to sleep. It's frightening.

"We have had problems round this area with noisy people causing trouble at night. Drink has a lot to answer for. I'm blessed to have a lot of friends, so I'll be all right."

Community beat manager PC Mark Hyde said: "Katie is one of the most popular people in this area. Everyone knows her and people wave at her all day long as she sits in her window.

"Whoever did this has frightened a really nice old lady who is well-liked around here and I hope they are ashamed."

PC Hyde added that Mrs Widdup was lucky not to be hurt.

"Her head would have been no more than a foot away from where the pane was smashed. The glass showered down the side of her bed and she was extremely lucky she did not get any injuries."

Mrs Widdup's home help, Mary O'Callaghan, said: "It's really upsetting. Nobody deserves that to happen but least of all Katie. She's a lovely person."

Butcher Stephen Bell, whose shop is next door to Mrs Widdup's home, added: "She's very popular in the community and there's people in and out of there all day. This kind of vandalism is a real problem for the area."