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Pensioners as old as 101 have been violently attacked on Tyneside amid a dramatic surge in reports of assaults on OAPs.

Northumbria Police figures have revealed in some incidents thugs brandished knives against the elderly as the number of reports rockts.

Last year the force received 955 reports of assaults on over-65s but in 2014, there were just 173 incidents.

The force says the increase is partially the result of victims having more confidence in reporting offences.

Between 2014 and 2018, there were 2,110 reports of various assault against over-65s made to the force, the majority of which were classed as common assault which includes everything from spitting at an individual to striking them.

However, figures disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act show a year-on-year rise in more serious offences, such as ABH and GBH.

Last year, one ABH victim was aged 99.

And in the past two years the force has investigated three attacks on centenarians including an allegation of common assault against a 101-year-old.

No figures were disclosed for 2019.

However last month, a 79-year-old suffered nasty injuries after her handbag was snatched in a brutal street robbery.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

Shocking pictures of the badly bruised woman were released after she suffered a fractured eye socket in the Gateshead incident.

Northumbria Police are still hunting a man they released a CCTV of in connection with the attack.

And one of the biggest stories on Tyneside in recent years centred around an OAP attack.

Disabled Alan Barnes was attacked outside his Gateshead home in 2015 by cruel Richard Gatiss.

The would-be mugger was jailed for four years attacking the-pensioner in an act which sickened Britain.

Over £330,000 was raised by the public to help Alan.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We have recently rolled out dedicated campaigns around vulnerability to ensure that those at risk know how and where to get help and to make sure they know they will be heard and supported when they do report a crime.

“It is crucial that we receive an accurate picture of crime impacting the elderly so we know how best to use resources and deploy tactics to challenge crime head on.

“We urge all victims of crime to continue reporting incidents as well as any suspicious behaviour to police so we can act now and continue to help those in need, especially those more vulnerable.”