A PENSIONER who used to take trips into London alone says she is now too frightened to even leave her house after being mugged in Gerrards Cross.

The 80-year-old was grabbed and then robbed of her engagement ring that she had been given 64 years ago this month.

The woman, who has lived in the area for 16 years, said: "I will never go through that alleyway again. I'm even scared to go up the West End.

"I thought Gerrards Cross was safe, but now I'm a little bit doubtful I just don't feel safe now.

"To just stop my usual habits is very hard, but I still feel frightened."

The mother of three was wearing the platinum diamond cluster ring - which had cost £5,000 when it was bought - as she walked home on August 9 from her doing her daily shopping at Marks & Spencer.

She took her usual route through an alleyway at around 6pm between Packhorse Road and South Park Avenue when she became unnerved by a tall man who walked past her.

She said:"As he walked past me in the alley I saw he was looking at me, and I thought why, but then he carried on up to the Packhorse Road and then he must have realised that the coast was clear."

The two men then grabbed the woman - who does not wish to be named - from behind before forcefully covering her face and forcing her to hand over her ring as well as a £2,000 Cartier watch that she was given by her youngest son. The pensioner's handbag which contained cash and other belongings was also stolen.

The woman was left with severe bruising to her arms and swelling to her face and is particularly distressed as she has not taken off her engagement ring since she was given it aged 16.

She is now frightened to leave her house and is very upset by what happened.

The mother of three said:"I was hysterical, I couldn't stop screaming they were very heavy handed and large men.

"Since then I have been nervous going out, I have had that ring a lifetime and it's just awful that it is gone now."

Police have described one of the attackers as a large black man who was wearing dark clothing.

No description has been released of the other mugger.

Investigating officer, Det Con Jenny Chapman, said: "This was a spiteful and cowardly attack on a frail, helpless lady and I would urge anyone who saw any suspicious people or cars in the area around the time of the attack to contact me."

% If you have any information regarding the robbery, please call DC Jenny Chapman at Aylesbury CID via the Police Enquiry Centre on 08458 505 505.

%Alternatively, if you don't want to talk to police or leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.