A woman in her 60s was hit over the head so hard with her own walking stick by a robber that it broke in half.

The victim was sitting in her living room in Harold Street, Queenborough, at about 7pm on Saturday, when a man went in and shouted at her to hand over her purse.

She refused and tried to grab her stick before the suspect used it to hit her over the head several times.

The victim used a chair to protect herself before the intruder took a knife, which had been used to open parcels, and threatened her.

She then tried to call the police and the robber ran out the back door with the knife and the top half of the walking stick.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson said: "The level of injuries sustained by the victim are by far some of the worst I’ve seen.

"The man brazenly walked through her closed but unlocked back door where he aggressively threatened her before using her own walking stick to hurt her.

"The level of injuries sustained by the victim are by far some of the worst I’ve seen..." - Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson

"The man is believed to have knocked at the victim’s door two weeks earlier where he claimed to be a neighbour.

"He said his child had kicked a football into her garden and asked the victim to collect the ball, so I’m confident this was a pre-planned targeted attack and I’d urge anyone with information to get in touch with us immediately."

Officers are now searching for the suspect who is white with tanned skin, tall, dark haired and wore a green hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information should call police on 01795 419119 quoting crime reference 46/3191/18.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.