A feisty 88-year-old woman fought back when a man grabbed her handbag in Slough - engaging in a 'tug of war' as she tried to fight him off.

The victim who walks with the aid of a stick was heading southbound along the Farnham Road near the Three Tuns pub at the junction with Bath Road at about 8.15am, when a man brushed past her and tried to grab her handbag.

She struggled with the offender until he managed to break the handbag strap. He then ran off with the bag, which contained cash, a bank card, house keys and other personal belongings, along the Bath Road in the direction of Maidenhead.

The offender is described as white, about 18 to 20 years, around 5ft 11in to 6ft 1in and was wearing dark clothing.

The victim sustained bruising and swelling to her left wrist but did not require hospital treatment.

Investigating officer DC Samuel French, of Local CID based at Slough police station, said: "This incident is particularly shocking as it involved an elderly and frail woman who relies on the use of a walking stick to get around, at a busy time of the morning when many vehicles would have been passing.

"She would have been clearly frail and vulnerable and the offender has taken full advantage of this. What the offender may not have realised is that the handbag had a long strap and the victim had wound part of this around her wrist.

"When the offender tried to grab the bag, she put up a fight and entered into a 'tug-of-war' with the offender right up until he managed to snap the strap and run off with the bag.

"I am very keen to hear from any witnesses who may have seen anything connected to the incident. Please contact me via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101."

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.