A WOMAN was left shaken after she was mugged while walking her dogs.

The 20-year-old victim was grabbed by the hair and had her mobile phone and purse stolen.

The incident happened in Rossendale on Friday night.

Police hunting the attacker have appealed for witnesses.

The robbery took place at around 11.30pm in a grassed area at the junction of Market Street and Gandy Lane, Whitworth.

A Lancashire police spokeswoman said the woman was attacked from behind and forced to hand over her handbag, pulling it from her shoulder.

The attacker then emptied the contents of the bag and grabbed the purse and a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone before running off.

DC Nicola Corbett, of Pennine CID, said: “We are making a number of enquiries to try and trace the person responsible.

“And as part of that, I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area and saw what happened to get in touch.

“Fortunately she was uninjured. But clearly the lady has been left shaken by what has happened. And so if anyone has any information at all that they think could help then we would be very keen to hear from them.”

The attacker is described as being white, around six feet tall and of skinny build.

He was wearing dark pants, a black hooded top and a red or burgundy and white scarf covering his face.

Anyone with any information about this mugging on the grassed area at the junction of Market Street and Gandy Lane, Whitworth, should contact Lancashire Police on 101.

And poilce said you should quote log number LC-20140301-0021.