A 74-year-old man tackled a burglar who was trying to break into his home in Linton Park, Bromyard.

The occupier heard a noise and went out to investigate.

He saw a man by his shed and attempted to stop him and there was a scuffle during which the elderly man was sprayed in the face with a toxic substance and sustained a quarter-inch gash to the head.

The thief escaped with a torch, valued at £20, in the incident, at around 6.45pm on Wednesday, November 19.

The same day, a thief targeted an elderly lady at her home in Lower Thorn, Bromyard.

A man forced the rear window and entered the house at around 6.30pm.

He made a search of two bedrooms and then entered the living room, where the 82-year- old occupant was watching television.

After telling her he had seen a break-in he advised her to check her money and led her to the bedroom where she said she did not have any cash.

She later discovered that £20 had been stolen from her purse, which was on the living room table.

Anybody with information about either crime should contact police on 08457 444888.