POLICE in Accrington are appealing for witnesses after a woman, aged 82, had her bag snatched on a busy road.

She was walking home along Foster Street, Accrington, when the thief ran up behind her and took the bag off her shoulder and ran off.

He escaped along Robert Street, off Burnley Road at 5pm on Tuesday.

The offender was white, aged 16 to 17, with dark, collar-length hair. He was about 5ft 8ins, and was wearing a blue, long-sleeved anorak-style jacket with a lighter blue top underneath, and blue trousers.

Police say the bag contained a quantity of cash, credit cards and store cards.

A search was made and officers conducted house to house enquiries. A spokesman said they had still to examine CCTV footage.

Contact Accrington CID on 01254 353741 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 with information.