Jen Hughes has had the apology she waited for

But, after publicly lambasting the police for taking two hours to come to her aid, Jen Hughes received a personal apology on Wednesday, when officers visited the elderly people's complex in Machynlleth to reassure residents.

Mrs Hughes caught the alleged burglar at 1020BST on Saturday morning.

But with many officers working at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod, the only police officer who was available at the town's station could only walk with the aid of crutches.

And as a police helicopter circled over the town, Mrs Hughes, helped by neighbours on the Trem-yr-allt estate, had to wait until about 1145BST until police arrived to arrest the suspect.

It took so long for the police to arrive I half expected to see the policeman with the bad leg arriving with flashing crutches Ray Atkins, resident

Mrs Hughes and residents at Trem-yr-Allt demanded an explanation from the police about why it took so long for them to come to their aid.

Mrs Hughes was alerted to a problem at one of the six flats for the elderly just before 1000BST.

Blood tests

She entered the flat to find drawers and cushions overturned in the living room.

She then discovered that two other flats had been entered and was then given a description of the alleged intruder.

"I phoned Machynlleth police station from my flat and went back down to the flats of the residents when I saw the alleged intruder and I grabbed him," said Mrs Hughes.

"I held on to him for dear life and then I was helped by neighbours.

Police have been seconded to the festival

"But I kept thinking about my people, who I would do anything for, and that kept me going.

"I expected the police to arrive but we waited and waited and waited and nobody come," added Mrs Hughes.

But by 1130BST, off-duty policeman David Herdman had heard the police helicopter circling over the town and phoned the police station before rushing to the scene.

"I was relieved to see a policeman even if he was off duty," said Mrs Hughes.

"Powys council are considering taking away resident wardens.

"If these people didn't have a warden where would they be in a situation like this?

Jen Hughes says she 'waited and waited' for the police

Ray Atkins, whose wife Monica had also rang the police several times, said: "It took so long for the police to arrive I half expected to see the policeman with the bad leg arriving with flashing crutches."

Maxine Jellett, one of the people who helped Mrs Hughes, said: "I want to know what took the police so long to arrive.

"It's all very well to send police to the eisteddfod but what are we paying our council tax for if we don't have a decent service?"

John Jones, who also helped Mrs Hughes, added: "It is no excuse for the police to blame the eisteddfod.

"Criminals will know the eisteddfod is on so there could be an increase in crime in this area because of that."

Resident Dyfi Davies said :"I understand that they were busy with the eisteddfod, but all the same, we pay towards the cost of the police, so we should have more protection."

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said that because no operational staff were available at Machynlleth two uniformed officers from Llanidloes and Newtown were dispatched to the scene.

She added: "The two officers on route were then advised to take up positions either side of Machynlleth and were authorised to undertake stop checks in a bid to catch the offender using the description given.

"The police helicopter was also called to assist with the search.

"Officers from Llandrindod CID were advised and began their way to the scene to investigate the crime.

"The police would like to thank the residents for their assistance in apprehending the offender and regret the injuries that were caused."