A handbag containing £800 was snatched from an elderly woman while she sat in her car in Oxford.

The 87-year-old woman had earlier withdrawn the money from the Cheltenham and Gloucester and visited several shops with her 85-year-old sister-in-law, before returning to their car parked by the shops in Between Towns Road at about 3pm yesterday.

As they were about to drive away, a man opened the passenger door and reached in and snatched the woman’s handbag from her lap running off in the direction of Church Cowley Road.

The man was white, about 20 years old, 6ft tall, with brown hair and slim.

He was wearing a cream-coloured top with a band around it and a woolly beanie-style hat, also with a band around it.

Det Sgt Matt Jarman said: “This was a particularly heartless incident that has left the elderly victim very shaken.

“I would urge anyone who saw this crime taking place, or who has any information about the man, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should contact PC Becky Brown via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505, or alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.