A 75-year-old woman was robbed of her pension money when a masked man forced his way into her house and knocked her over.

The great-grandmother was followed home from the post office by a man with a scarf wrapped around his face, who pushed his way into her Brighton home.

He twice knocked her to the floor of her home in Whitehawk Way, Whitehawk, Brighton, and ran off with her bank card and about £200 cash.

Her daughter said the robbery left her frail mother living in fear – and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

She said: “As far as we know he must have been in the post office and followed her back down to the house. She is frail and walks slowly.

“She got inside the front door and turned to shut the door when he pushed her back and then pushed her back down when she tried to get up.

She said her brother lives with her mother but he was not there at the time.

She added: “I think she was too frightened to go out again in case her attacker was hanging around outside.

“The money was her pension, which she needed to pay some bills and get some Christmas presents. She was about to go out and do some shopping.”

The great-grandmother of two suffered minor injuries to her back and hand.

The victim’s daughter, who The Argus is not naming to protect her mother’s identity, added: “Come forward if you know anything, please come forward. How would you like this to happen to your mum or your grandparents?

“It is an awful thing for somebody to do.”

The robber was described as white, in his 30s or 40s, about 6ft and of large build with broad shoulders.

He was wearing dark clothing, a dark woolly hat and a brown scarf across his face so only his eyes were showing.

Detective Sergeant Kate Witt said: “We need to speak to anyone who saw a man fitting the description of the robber in the area or who knows who the man is. If you know anything at all, please contact us.”

Anyone with information about the robbery, which took place between 10am and 10.30am on Wednesday, should email 101@|sussex.pnn.police.uk, quoting serial 1485 of December 17, call 101 or call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.