'Defenceless woman' attacked in bed

Mrs Marr is being treated in hospital for facial injuries

A 95-year-old woman was attacked as she lay "utterly defenceless" in bed at her home in East Ham in London.

Doris Marr was woken at about 0100 BST on Wednesday by a man searching through her wardrobe who then punched her in the face several times.

The intruder continued to search the flat but when Mrs Marr called out he hit her again and left.

Mrs Marr is being treated in hospital for facial injuries.

Door kicked in

Detective constable Dave Mothersole said: "This was a cruel and brutal attack on a woman who was utterly defenceless.

"The suspect appears to have kicked in the front door so we are sure someone must have heard him."

It is not yet known if anything was stolen from the flat.

Police have described the attacker as white, 5ft 9ins, medium build with short brown hair and is believed to be in his 20s.