Despite being beaten black and blue on two occasions and robbed on another, determined 79-year-old Dorothy Barclay refused to be cowed and insisted on taking her daily walk along the streets of Paston to her local shops.

A group in the area are now planning to remember Dorothy with a posthumous community bravery award.

Board member of Paston Area Community Trust Vicky Mclellan said: "Everyone knew Dot, so the news has shocked us all. We were just trying to get a sense of community spirit going when we were all rocked by these muggings.

"But Dot wasn't going to give up. She just kept picking herself back up and going about her life. She wasn't going to let the muggers win. Her courage is an inspiration to everyone."

Her son-in-law, Nigel Prime (55), said: "We kept warning her about the dangers, but she was stuck in the '30s when times were different and she could never see any wrong in anyone.

"Dorothy loved helping people and loved gallivanting on buses around the city and further afield."