BRAVE 98-year-old Alice Horne was overwhelmed this week when the Observer presented her with a huge bouquet of flowers to mark her courage after being mugged in her own home.
Our front-page story last week shocked the whole community and Alice has been inundated with well-wishers and promised extra security measures to make her home in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, extra-safe.
When we delivered the flowers from Accrington florist Prima Flora, Alice, who is shortly to become a Freeman of the Borough, said: "They're really beautiful. I'll put them in the back so they don't get stolen!"
Defiant Alice, who is disabled, vowed she would not be beaten by the violent thugs who got into her house and robbed her, holding her down in her wheelchair.
Alice said: "I've had a lot of people ringing and visiting. I feel like a celebrity. People were fighting to push me around Asda."
The chairman of Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club, Michael Jackson, pledged Alice additional safety measures including a possible security camera in a bid to deter doorstep conmen.
He said: "We all just wanted to wish her well.
"We are actively looking at security measures which will help Alice and these will be funded through Rotary."
Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe also took Alice flowers on behalf of the council.
He said: "Alice is absolutely amazing, she is so brave and gallant and the more I see of her the more I'm convinced that she is a superb choice to receive the Freedom of the Borough."
