A BRAVE pensioner who chased a burglar with an axe was so alert gardai were able to arrest a suspect.

The 69-year-old woman is the latest victim of aggravated burglary in Co Donegal.

A man broke into her home 1km outside the village of Kilmacrennan at 3.45am yesterday, but by the time he entered her bedroom she had already called gardai.

The burglar threatened her before taking her handbag and some medicines.

The victim – who was still shaking yesterday afternoon after her ordeal – didn't want to talk about the incident.

"Gardai based in Milford were at the scene very quickly and were given a detailed description of a suspect," Inspector Michael Harrison said.

Family friends of yesterday's victim said she was able to chase the burglar with an axe.

"As he was leaving the bedroom she grabbed the axe and tried to run after him," said one friend.

"She is very upset about what happened but we've told her she was very brave and her actions really helped gardai."

Insp Harrison added: "Gardai were able to identify a suspect from the description given by the victim and a 24-year-old man was arrested at a house in the area.

"Stolen items were also recovered," the inspector said.

Gardai are trying to track down burglars responsible for 20 raids in Co Donegal in the past fortnight.

Three men with addresses in Yorkshire were detained earlier in the week near Ramelton, 6km from where yesterday's burglary took place.

And, yesterday, teenagers appeared before Ballyshannon District Court accused of offences in the town during December and earlier this month.

Irish Independent