A Telford pensioner is in hospital today after he was tied up and beaten by burglars after they forced their way into his home.The 65-year-old man was tied to a chair and beaten by two men over a period of about half an hour at his home in Wrockwardine Wood at 11.10pm yesterday. He had opened the door to the two men who barged their way in and tied him to the chair.

After tying the man down, the burglars beat him causing him serious head injuries.

They then fled the property in Smith Crescent with his car keys. His stolen Suzuki Vitara was later found burned out in Lilleshall.

A 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man were arrested in Lilleshall last night and were being quizzed by detectives at Malinsgate Police Station this afternoon.

The pensioner managed to struggle free some time after the burglars fled and called police. He was alone in the house at the time of the attack.

Detective Sergeant Mark Bellamy of Telford CID, who is leading the investigation, said some details were still unknown as the man was still very shaken. He was taken to Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital by ambulance.

“This was a nasty aggravated burglary which was reported to us at 11.10pm yesterday.

“Some of the details are still sketchy.

“What we do know is that two men broke in to a property on Smith Crescent in Wrockwardine Wood, where they tied an elderly male up, beat him and stole his car.

“He suffered quite serious cuts and bruises but they are not thought to be life threatening,” Mr Bellamy said.

“The victim managed to free himself to ring police. We believe the ordeal lasted about half an hour.”

“We need anybody who may have seen a Suzuki Vitara being driven dangerously between Wrockwardine Wood and Lilleshall late last night to contact police as a matter of urgency,” Mr Bellamy said.

The incident happened after a 49-year-old Telford woman was attacked when she opened her door to a man wearing a balaclava.

The victim was slapped to the face by the masked man who knocked on her door in Keepers Crescent, St Georges at 4.20am on Saturday.

By Kirsty Marston