Three youths entered the women's home through the back door and ransacked the house before making off with a small sum of money.

The women, thought to be in their late 80s and early 90s, said they were totally shocked to find the youths in their house.

Harriet Boswell said she and her sister Dora had settled down to watch television for the night when she decided to make them both a cup of tea.

"I came out into the hall to find one of them standing there.

"He looked to be about 19, there were three of them - there might have been more but I only saw three, all about 19.

"I was very scared, but just asked him what he thought he was doing and he pushed me around a bit. Then my sister Dora started to scream and because she screamed that kind of frightened me even more and I screamed.

"It must have been after eight o'clock as we had settled down to watch I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here because we like that.

"Afterwards we realised that they had already been up the stairs and rummaged through the bedrooms.

"We didn't hear them, we were watching the telly.

"They stole Dora's money - she thinks it was about £80.

"One of the neighbours heard us screaming and came in and then called the police.

"The police were just wonderful - such nice people," she said.

Harriet said she and her sister, who are originally from England, have lived in the house in Parkgate Avenue in east Belfast for around 10 years and wouldn't be moving.

The feisty pensioner said the thieves were nothing but cowards, but modestly denied her own courage: "Brave? I'm terrified, but the police said they wouldn't come back again."

She said she was prepared if they did: "I've got a stick now, and if they ever come back I'd hit them with my stick."

A friend who arrived to visit the sisters said they were wonderful old people and great characters.

"Their parents were involved with a travelling circus and they travelled around with them and the circus all their lives until they settled here."

He said the two sisters were all that was left of the family as two other sisters had died.

"They are lovely, intelligent, strong-minded wee women."

He said those behind the robbery were beneath contempt.

"What kind of people - big strong young men, could do the like of this to two defenceless old women?

"What do I think about them? You couldn't repeat it.

"I blame the parents.