A BRAVE Huntington woman told today how she got her life back to normal after the trauma of finding burglars in her own home.

The woman - who has asked to remain anonymous - was left both fearful and furious after being targeted last February.

She got home at 6pm, and knew something was wrong as soon as she pulled on to her drive.

She said: "I had already seen the upstairs curtains were closed, which is unusual, but when the light went off I knew there were intruders.

"I told my two daughters to stay in the car and slowly unlocked the front door. I was prepared to confront them - I felt really angry - but they were too quick, and by the time I got in they were out of the back."

The burglars had forced the back door lock, and, ignoring everything downstairs, had gone into the woman's bedroom where they found a tin containing her late mother's jewellery.

She continued: "They'd taken several pieces. They also took a watch that had been bought specially for me, and a purse and mobile phone of my daughter's.

"It was then the anger kicked in - they hadn't just intruded on my life but my mother and daughters' too.

"I called the police quickly, and they were really good. They were kind and kept me up to date with everything that was going on."

The woman said that after the police had left she started to feel scared - but they had arranged for a locksmith to secure the door.

"I felt all right after that, and I have some great mates. One of them came around. I was grateful for that," she said.

The next day, a Victim Support volunteer rang.

The two had a chat, and the volunteer arranged for a burglar alarm to be fitted to the woman's home.

She added: "It was good to know there was someone to talk to. I appreciated it, and now the burglar alarm is there we all feel incredibly safe.

Seven months on, the woman says she and her daughters' lives are virtually back to normal.

"I feel the chapter is closed now. I haven't been able to buy another watch, though - the one they took was really important to me and I was really angry they had it.

"In a way I feel sorry for them. They must have very sad lives if they are low enough to do something like that."

If you would like to speak to someone from Victim Support, ring 01904 636905.

Updated: 15:18 Monday, September 17, 2001