A GREAT-GRANDMA has been left 'too frightened to leave her home' after being confronted by robbers.

Reene Wike had to have stitches in her head after suffering a fall at her nearby convenience store in Radcliffe — just moments after the incident.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery but has since been released under investigation.

Mrs Wike, aged 77, heard laughing behind her as she walked from her home to the Premier Redbank Convenience Store in Ainsworth Road — a journey she makes every day.

She said: "I'm slow on my legs so I was walking slowly. I was on my way to the shops, going along the cut-through, when I heard a man and his mate laughing behind me."

Mrs Wike did not think any more of it and went to withdraw £80 from the cash machine inside the shop where she often buys food items.

She said: "I put my digits into the machine and took my card out. But as the money dropped, a hand came over my shoulder and the man said 'that is my ****ing money'. I said it wasn't. He went to take it off me but he didn't get it.

"The owner told him to get out and get away."

Mrs Wike, who lives in the residential area off Redbank Fields, said she was left shaken by the incident but continued shopping and paid for her items.

But when she went to leave the shop, she said she saw the two men stood outside.

"I don't know what happened. My legs went funny and I fell", she said. "I bashed my head on the door frame. I don't know what happened next."

Shop owner Mohammed Khan rushed over to help, giving Mrs Wike some water and a stool to sit on. He then called 999 and requested an ambulance.

Mr Khan's daughter Riffal Khan said: "The woman was using the cash machine. She comes in every day.

"She came to the counter to buy her goods and I think she was a bit shaken.

"As she was walking out, she lost her balance and fell.

"The store was filled with customers at the time and everyone was gathered around her."

Mrs Wike, a mother-of-two and great-grandmother of 14, was taken to Fairfield General Hospital and had to have five staples in her head to close up the wound. She remained at the hospital for four hours before being allowed to return home.

"I'm a nervous wreck", she said. "I'm scared to leave the house."

A police spokesman said: "Some time between 9am and 9.30pm on Wednesday, July 27, an elderly woman was withdrawing money from a cash machine inside a shop in Ainsworth Road when a man attempted to take the money.

"A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and was released under investigation."