AN 82-year-old woman was robbed as she made her way through Nelson town centre.

The pensioner was walking through the town's bus station in Broadway when a man approached her and snatched her shopping bag.

After the incident at about 3pm on Tuesday the robber ran off towards Scotland Road and was seen by witnesses outside the Pendle Wavelengths Leisure Centre emptying items out of the bag.

He stole £10 cash, shopping and personal items and ran off up Leeds Road.

The mugger is described as a white male of slim build with a thin face, 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in, between 19 and 23 with short, brown hair.

He was wearing a beige baseball cap, a dark blue tracksuit top, with a cream or white band across the shoulders and dark blue tracksuit bottoms with a white panel near the bottom of the leg.

Anyone with information should contact Brent Fielden Street Crime Co-ordinator for Pennine Police on 01282 472159 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.