Residents left horrified as two elderly pensioners were threatened with a knife on Christmas Day

Mrs Lawrence Soulie, a 38-year-old mother, was shocked to find out two people in their 80s had been held up at knife point by a man at 8pm, on St Vincent Road in Southsea.

She said: '˜I knew something had happened because we had something through the door from police, but I didn't know the victims were two elderly people, or they were threatened with a knife.

'˜It's terrible. We were in all day on Christmas Day and didn't hear anything.

'˜It's very scary to hear because I've got young kids and we walk everywhere so we'll have to be careful.

'˜There are a lot of people living down this road with families.'

Police are appealing for witnesses after the man was scared off by a passing vehicle and fled the area.

Joanne Parker, 29, said: '˜I've lived here about a year and it's normally pretty quiet.

'˜Things happen all over the place but it's horrible to think down here, on Christmas Day, that that happened.

'˜It does really worry me because we go out to walk the dog quite late at night and it's not nice to think there are people hanging around waiting to cause trouble.'

Lefur Jean-Bernard, 50, saw the police arrive on Boxing Day to inform other St Vincent Road residents about the crime.

'˜Things like that don't happen here, in other roads around us it does but not here,' he said.

'˜I've lived here 11 years and not heard of anything like this happening on this road.

'˜It's awful, you have to be vigilant all the time. Portsmouth is a big city and bad things like that happen.'

Insp Dave Ryan said '˜I understand that this incident will have worried local residents; to threaten two older members of our community on Christmas Day is a really disgraceful and cowardly act.

'˜Officers carried out numerous enquiries over Christmas Day and Boxing Day, including visits to families in St Vincent Road and surrounding streets. The case remains under active investigation and we are still keen to hear from anyone who may have any information to help identify the person responsible.'

Commenting on The News's Facebook post about the attack, Natalie Arnold wrote: '˜What a desperate coward to do this to an elderly couple.

'˜Hope he gets what's due to him for such an act.'

The attacker is described as white, aged in his 40s or 50s and around 5ft 6ins tall. He was wearing a black jacket, black woolly hat and black trousers.

Anyone with any information about the attack should contact Hampshire police on 101 quoting 44180477570 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111.