A 48-YEAR-OLD woman was knocked to the ground when a thief stole her handbag in Blackburn town centre.

The robbery took place yesterday at 12.15 as she walked down an alley close to Mercers in Northgate. The offender wore a black bob cap and a light-coloured jacket.

He grabbed a black leather handbag which contained £100, bank cards and a Nokia mobile telephone. Detectives want to hear from witnesses or anybody with information about the attack.

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