AN ELDERLY woman cracked her hip when she was knocked flying by two conmen who had entered her home. The pair had taken advantage of Queenie Usher, 85, as she was putting out a bag of clothes for the Salvation Army. They tricked their way into her home in

AN ELDERLY woman cracked her hip when she was knocked flying by two conmen who had entered her home.

The pair had taken advantage of Queenie Usher, 85, as she was putting out a bag of clothes for the Salvation Army.

They tricked their way into her home in Eaton Socon by claiming to be from the water board and insisted they needed to test the water pressure in her house.

But when she let them in a neighbour saw what was going on and became suspicious. One of the men led Mrs Usher into the kitchen and the other went into the sitting room and started rummaging around.

Meanwhile, the neighbour and his wife saw that the door had been left open and, knowing something was wrong, went into the house to confront the men.

The neighbour grabbed hold of one of the intruders and his wife took hold of the other but they escaped. Mrs Usher placed herself between the conmen and the door and they knocked her over as they fled.

She was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon, where yesterday (Tuesday) she was still being treated.

A police spokesman said: "This was a particularly nasty attack on a very vulnerable person. Mrs Usher is still in shock and the invasion into her home as well as the injury is still affecting her."

INFORMATION: The incident was at about 1.30pm on Saturday, July 15. Call St Neots police with information on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.