A CARHAMPTON pensioner climbed through a window to escape from a trio of balaclava-clad burglars who shut her in a room after breaking into her home. Wearing her dressing gown, the 82-year-old then walked a few hundred yards to the nearby Butchers Arms pub where she told barman Luke Ahern: "I've just been burgled." He raised the alarm and police were quickly on the scene, setting up a mini-incident room in the pub's restaurant. "Considering what had just happened to her the woman wasn't in too bad a state," Mr Ahern told the Free Press. "We sat her down and made her a cup of tea but the police were soon there and took control. "The pub was fairly quiet. We just had a darts team in and a few locals." Although little of any value was taken in the raid early last Friday evening and the victim, who has not been named, was physically unharmed, Avon and Somerset police spokesman Dan Mountain said the experience had been frightening one. "She is a very resolute lady but obviously it was very frightening for her. "Although not physically threatened and otherwise uninjured, she has been left shocked by the burglary. "It is most unusual to have this sort of crime in what one would normally consider a safe area." The pensioner was at home alone when she heard a noise at about 7.20pm and found the three men wearing balaclavas and dark clothing. She was shut in a room with one of the intruders keeping watch on the door while the other two searched the house. Police say they fled soon afterwards, escaping with just a small amount of stolen items. Butchers Arms landlord Kevin Nicholls said villagers had been left shocked by the incident. "People are disgusted that anybody could do something like this," said Mr Nicholls, who with many of his regulars had left for a cricket dinner in Taunton almost an hour before the break-in. "This is a good village and nobody can believe what has happened." Police believe that the three offenders could have been in the pub shortly before the burglary but Mr Nicholls disputes this. "My bar staff knew everyone in there. They would have noticed any strangers or three men leaving - it was a quiet night because so many of us were out of the village. "Police officers have questioned people and I believe one man has said he saw three lads walking up and down the main street earlier in the evening." The pensioner has been unable to give police any description of the offenders although she has confirmed they had local accents. Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious on Friday evening or may know the offenders involved. Anyone who can help should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.