A FRAIL pensioner has accused the police of “disgusting behaviour” after they mistakenly smashed down her front door and then replaced it with chipboard – leaving thieves to try and break-in at least three times.

Officers raided the flat of 89-year-old Elsie Graham in Station Road, Epping, earlier this month on the assumption that she might be dead.

But a terrified Ms Graham, who lives alone, was very much alive, and said she had not answered the door or phone because she had been sleeping.

Police promised to replace the door “within a couple of days” according to Ms Graham, and patched it up with wood in the meantime.

But the pensioner said she then spent the next three weeks living in “constant fear” as she waited for them to act.

The police finally replaced it today (Tuesday October 27) – 24 hours after discovering the Guardian was going to publish an article on Ms Graham's ordeal.

Ms Graham said: “When they broke in I thought there had been an explosion. It was very shocking.

“They said it would be put back properly, they kept saying it was going to be done.

“But since then they've done nothing. I've just been sitting here terrified.”

Ms Graham said she has caught people trying to break in through the flimsy chipboard on three separate occasions.

“One night I got up, it was about two o'clock in the morning, and I saw the door handle move. I fell forward onto it and pushed. I could feel someone trying to get in.

“Sometimes I've sat here all night long. I haven't had one night's sleep since it happened, and my blood pressure has done nothing but go up.

“It's absolutely disgusting the way the police have treated me.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police forced entry to an address in Epping on Tuesday October 6 following a call reporting a concern for the welfare of an elderly occupant who had not been responding after various attempts.

“A boarding-up company was called at the time to repair the forced door.

“However it later transpired a new front door would be needed.

“In normal circumstances would be the responsibility of the household to arrange a replacement through their insurance company. However on this occasion Essex Police has replaced the front door as a gesture of goodwill.

“Local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have been in close contact with the occupant throughout by making regular visits.”