Mary Coulter, 76, battered with a 'machete and bat' - APPEAL To Catch these Cowardly Thugs

A woman whose defenceless elderly mother was brutally assaulted in her own home has made an emotional plea for help to catch her attackers.

Four men burst into the home of 76-year-old Mary Coulter in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, in the early hours of March 22.

They kicked in the door and without saying a word launched their sickening attack, breaking both the woman's arms and leaving her with serious head injuries and cuts to her face, which are said to have scarred her for life.

The grandmother-of-six, who lives alone, was pounced upon in the hallway of the property in Overtown, at about 5.20am, with a large bladed weapon - possibly a machete - and what is understood to be a bat.

As Mrs Coulter tried to escape by fleeing out on to the street, the men chased after her and continued to assault her. They ran off only when the pensioner's screams alerted neighbours. Read More

The attackers are white men who were all either wearing hooded tops or had their faces hidden with scarves. One is particularly heavily built. All four were wearing light-coloured trainers.

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.