A FRAIL 85-year-old war veteran and his 90-year-old sister used a poker and a walking stick as weapons when they fought back against two intruders at their home in Tidworth.

The man, who weighs just six-and-a-half stone, grabbed a poker and attacked one intruder before his sister joined in with her walking stick and hit the second.

The pensioner had answered his back door to a man claiming to be a member of the waterboard investigating a water leak but became suspicious and tried to shut the door. The bogus caller put his foot in the door and called out to an accomplice. Both men forced their way into the home, manhandled their elderly victim and forced him into an armchair.

The plucky pensioner called out to his elderly sister - who had only returned from a stay in hospital two days earlier - to call the police. He then picked up a poker and struck the first intruder several times on the arm, body and head. His sister joined in, using her walking stick to strike the second intruder. Both men escaped empty-handed.

Salisbury police spokesman Dave Taylor said: "From a police point of view we would never recommend the course of action to anybody because the consequences could have been very bad. But that's not to take away from the bravery they both showed."

Both brother and sister were unharmed but were said to be deeply traumatised.

The first intruder is described as white, 5ft 6ins, aged about 30, with dark hair in a crew-cut style and a round face. He was of stocky build and was clean-shaven. He was wearing a navy blue jersey bearing an unknown logo on the left and dark trousers, possibly jeans.

The second man was also white and approximately 5ft 6ins tall, aged between 20 and 30 with dark, slightly longer hair. He was clean-shaven and was wearing the same style jumper as his accomplice.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the anonymous Crimestoppers line - 0800 555 111.