A WOMAN who underwent a horrifying ordeal at the hands of robbers in her Emery Down cottage last Friday has spoken publicly of her ordeal.

Lesley Foreman, 58, told a news conference that the robbers threatened to inject her with the AIDS virus if she did not 'shut up' after being bound and gagged.

Her husband Christopher, 53, has now offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her attackers.

Mrs Foreman, who is still very shocked by the trauma, said she was in bed when the two intruders, wearing balaclavas, entered the cottage after her husband left for work at 7.40am.

She was bound and gagged, which was particularly traumatic as she suffers from asthma, and left in the bedroom, but was injured falling down the stairs trying to get to the phone.

She managed to ring the police at 8.42am, after her assailants had left, and said it had taken her about half an hour to get downstairs.

She was taken to Southampton General Hospital, but her injuries were not serious.

A substantial amount of cash and jewellery was stolen in the raid, including gold sovereigns and gold Krugerrands, a lady's gold and diamond Rolex watch and a gent's gold Rolex watch.

Police would like to speak to any early morning motorists who were in Mill Lane/Stoney Cross Lane, at Emery Down on Friday morning between 7 and 8.30am.

They would specifically like to speak to the owners of a red saloon car seen parked outside the WI Hall in Mill Lane, and also a white, high-topped Transit-type van seen in Mill Lane between 7.40 and 8am.

Anyone who can help the police in their inquiries should ring the Hythe Major Incident Room on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.