The incident happened at a house in the Ravenhill Road area at about 2200 GMT on Thursday.

The 78-year-old woke up in the living room of her home at Chesham Grove to find three masked youths standing over her.

They tied the pensioner's ankles together, while they searched her home.

However, the woman was able to escape and raised the alarm.

A neighbour who went to help her, said the pensioner had been in a very distressed state.

She was treated for shock.

Head injuries

The incident is the latest in a string of attacks on pensioners across Northern Ireland.

Police have appealed for anyone with any information about the incident to contact them.

Meanwhile, an 89-year-old man has been attacked on the steps of a church in County Londonderry.

He suffered heads injuries during the assault in King Street, Magherafelt on Thursday night.